”Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2New International Version (NIV)
Galatians 6:2 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
Carry each other’s burden
In Galatians 6:2, Paul exhorted the Galatians to “Carry each other’s burden“. He did this when he addressed the responsibilities that the Christians in the churches in Galatia had towards their fellow Christians.
Paul, therefore, addressed the manner in which the believers in Galatia were to handle those among them who had sinned. Because Galatians chapter 6 verse 2 is an extension of Galatians 6:1 which addressed how they were to restore their fellow Christians who had fallen into sin and keep watch so that they wouldn’t themselves fall into temptation.
Living by the Spirit
Specifically, in Galatians 6:1, Paul stated that because they were living by the Spirit, they were supposed to restore someone caught in sin gently (Galatians 6:1a). He also told them to watch themselves so that they couldn’t get tempted (Galatians 6:1b).
You, therefore, as the Spirit of God guides you, have to restore sinners within your fellowship with gentleness. This is what Christ exemplified when He restored the woman caught in adultery in a gentle manner (John 8:1-11) – though, you have to appreciate that the woman was a non-believer.
Apostle James, in James 5:16, exhorted his/her reader to “confess his/her sins to fellow Christians” (James 5:16a). And, therefore, when you confess your sin to a fellow believer, your fellow believer bears the same.
Bearing another’s burden of sin
Remember, when you bear another’s burden, you essentially take on something that the other person can not carry on their own – sin is a burden that is heavy to carry. And, therefore, listening to your fellow Christian’s sin is actually bearing the burdens of others is an act of love (1 Corinthians 13:2).
Furthermore, Jesus exemplified the subject of bearing burdens when He bore our burden of sin (1 Peter 2:24 and Isaiah 53:4). Other verses which include Romans 12:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Peter 3:8-9, and 1 Peter 4:9-10 exhort you and me to mind others.
You will, therefore, be blessed when you “show mercy to others” (Matthew 5:7). And you will also be a good neighbor to your fellow Christian (Luke 10:25-37) because a good neighbor shows mercy.
Prayer/Blessing
Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to carry the burdens of my fellow Christians, especially the ones that are sin related. This is my humble prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
2 Chronicles 18-20 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
