Dawn 2 Dusk Shoulders Made for SharingPaul doesn’t imagine Christians walking through life as isolated units, each dragging their own load in silence. He pictures a family, close enough to see when the other is straining, humble enough to stop and step under the weight together. When we move toward one another like that—into grief, confusion, temptation, or practical need—something profound happens: the love of Christ becomes visible and tangible. This is how the law of Christ, His command to love as He has loved us, gets worked out in ordinary Tuesdays and tired evenings. The Law of Christ in Everyday Shoes Paul writes, “Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). The “law of Christ” echoes Jesus’ words: “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another” (John 13:34). Real love is not sentimental; it is weight-bearing. It kneels beside the one whose world just fell apart, sits next to the one drowning in anxiety, and takes actual responsibility—time, prayer, presence, resources—to help. This is love with sleeves rolled up and shoes dusty. This kind of love is only possible because Jesus first carried our heaviest burden. At the cross He took on Himself the guilt we could never lift, and He now invites the weary: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). When we shoulder another’s load, we are echoing what He has already done for us. We are saying with our actions, “Because Christ has carried me, I will not let you sink alone.” Burden-bearing is not extra credit; it is a gospel-shaped way of life. When the Burden Is Sin Some of the hardest burdens to carry with others are not just sorrows, but sins. Paul has just said, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). To bear a sinner’s burden is not to excuse or celebrate what God calls sin; it is to help them find the path back to Christ. It means caring enough to confront gently, pray earnestly, and walk patiently with them toward repentance and freedom. This is why James calls us into honest community: “Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed” (James 5:16). We are not called to watch each other fall from a safe distance; we are called to get close enough to grab a hand. Because we have “a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but… was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15), we can reflect His gentle firmness with one another. Burden-bearing love does the hard work of helping a brother or sister hate their sin while knowing they are not abandoned in the struggle. Living as a Burden-Bearing People Imagine a church where it is normal to say, “I need help,” and just as normal to hear, “I’m here.” Scripture sketches that picture: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). This is not a special ministry team; it is the ordinary calling of every believer. We admonish the wandering, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and are “patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14), because that is how our Savior has treated us. Today, you don’t have to fix every problem in the world. But you are called to step under at least one burden that is not your own. Maybe it is interceding seriously for a struggling friend, showing practical generosity to someone in financial strain, or simply sitting and listening to a hurting family member. Ask God to make Philippians 2:3–4 real in you: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others”. One act of shared weight at a time, you will find that Christ’s love is not only being given—it is also growing inside you. Lord Jesus, thank You for bearing the crushing burden of my sin and giving me rest. Today, open my eyes to someone whose load I can help carry, and give me the courage and humility to step under the weight with them for Your glory. Amen. Morning with A.W. Tozer Finding Light and Life in ChristThe happiest man in the world," said a well-known preacher some time ago, "is the new convert before he has met too many Bible teachers and seen too many church members." Even after we have made what allowance we must for the obvious irony in these words, there still remains in them sufficient truth to perturb the honest Christian soul more than a little.
Surely one of the happiest persons in the world should be the new convert. Has he not found Him of whom Moses and all the prophets did write? The spontaneous song that bursts from his lips is likely to be: "Hallelujah! I have found Him Whom my soul so long has craved. Jesus satisfies my longings; Through His blood I now am saved."
Old things pass away and all things become new. So brilliant is the contrast between the dark despair of but a few short hours ago and the new, bright world into which he has been thrust by the miracle of faith that every nerve and cell in his complex personality vibrates joyously. The testimony of many persons known for their poise and self-restraint has been that at the time of their first satisfying encounter with Christ the whole world took on a new luster. It is not unusual to hear people say that on the night of their conversion, the air smelled sweeter, the stars shone more brightly and all the common familiar objects of nature appeared to glow with a subdued light. And that these men and women were not the victims of a hallucination is proved triumphantly by the stability of their subsequent lives and the salty good sense manifest in all their religious attitudes.
Music For the Soul The Antidote to All DespondencyHast thou not known? hast thou not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary. - Isaiah 40:28. Here is an appeal to the familiar thought of an unchangeable God as the antidote to all despondency and the foundation of all hope. To whom is the prophet speaking? The words of the previous verse tell us, in which he addresses himself to Jacob, or Israel, who is represented as complaining, "My way is hid from the Lord." That is to say, he speaks to the believing, but despondent, part of the exiles in Babylon; and to them He comes with this vehement question, which implies that they were in danger, in their despondency, of practically forgetting the great thought. There is wonder in the question, there is a tinge of rebuke in it, and there is distinctly implied this: that whensoever there steals over our spirits despondency or perplexity about our own individual history, or about the peace and the fortunes of the Church or the world, the one sovereign antidote against gloom and low spirits, and the one secret of unbroken cheer and confidence is to lift our eyes to the unwearied God. The life of men and of creatures is like a river, with its source and its course and its end. The life of God is like the ocean, with joyous movement of tides and currents of life and energy and purpose, but ever the same, and ever returning upon itself. "The Everlasting God " is "the Lord," and Jehovah the Unchanged, Unchangeable, Inexhaustible Being, spends, and is unspent; gives, and is none the poorer; works, and is never wearied; lives, and with no tendency to death in His life; flames, with no tendency to extinction in the blaze. The bush burned and was not consumed: " He fainteth not, neither is weary." The prophet takes his stand upon the most elementary truths of religion. His appeal to them is: "What do you call God? You call Him the Lord, do you not? What do you mean by calling Him that? Do you ever ask yourselves that question? You mean this, if you mean anything: " He fainteth not, neither is wearied." "Jehovah" is interpreted from the lips of God Himself: " I Am that I Am." That is the expression of what metaphysicians call absolute, underived, eternal Being, limited and shaped and determined by none else, flowing from none else; eternal, lifted up above the fashions of time. Of Him men cannot say " He was " or " He will be," but only "He is" - by Himself, of Himself, for ever unchanged. Spurgeon: Morning and Evening Exodus 14:13 Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. These words contain God's command to the believer when he is reduced to great straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties. He cannot retreat; he cannot go forward; he is shut up on the right hand and on the left; what is he now to do? The Master's word to him is, "Stand still." It will be well for him if at such times he listens only to his Master's word, for other and evil advisers come with their suggestions. Despair whispers, "Lie down and die; give it all up." But God would have us put on a cheerful courage, and even in our worst times, rejoice in his love and faithfulness. Cowardice says, "Retreat; go back to the worldling's way of action; you cannot play the Christian's part, it is too difficult. Relinquish your principles." But, however much Satan may urge this course upon you, you cannot follow it if you are a child of God. His divine fiat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and so thou shalt, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from thy course. What, if for a while thou art called to stand still, yet this is but to renew thy strength for some greater advance in due time. Precipitancy cries, "do something. Stir yourself; to stand still and wait, is sheer idleness." We must be doing something at once--we must do it so we think--instead of looking to the Lord, who will not only do something but will do everything. Presumption boasts, "If the sea be before you, march into it and expect a miracle." But Faith listens neither to Presumption, nor to Despair, nor to Cowardice, nor to Precipitancy, but it hears God say, "Stand still," and immovable as a rock it stands. "Stand still;"--keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, "Go forward." Spurgeon: Faith’s Checkbook Perfect PurityWarrior of the cross, fight on! Never rest till thy victory is complete, for thine eternal reward will prove worthy of a life of warfare. See, here is perfect purity for thee! A few in Sardis kept their garments undefiled, and their recompense is to be spotless. Perfect holiness is the prize of our high calling; let us not miss it. See, here is joy! Thou shalt wear holiday robes, such as men put on at wedding feasts; thou shalt be clothed with gladness and be made bright with rejoicing. Painful struggles shall end in peace of conscience and joy in the LORD. See, here is victory! Thou shalt have thy triumph. Palm, and crown, and white robe shall be thy guerdon; thou shalt be treated as a conqueror and owned as such by the LORD Himself. See, here is priestly array! Thou shalt stand before the LORD in such raiment as the sons of Aaron wore; thou shalt offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving and draw near unto the LORD with the incense of praise. Who would not fight for a LORD who gives such large honors to the very least of His faithful servants? Who would not be clothed in a fool’s coat for Christ’s sake, seeing He will robe us with glory? The Believer’s Daily Remembrancer The Way of PeacePEACE is an invaluable blessing, whether we consider it as reconciliation to God, or tranquillity and comfort of mind. It is not to be obtained by the works of the law, but if we would obtain peace, it must be by receiving the Saviour’s word into our heart; by believing on Him as able and willing to save; by trusting the testimony God hath given of His Son; by renouncing self, as loathsome in the sight of God; by relying simply and always on Jesus for all we need; and by daily making a hearty surrender of all to infinite love. If we would maintain peace, we must confide in the promises; walk by the precepts; be loyal to the King of Zion; commune daily with our heavenly Father; attend upon Him in the ordinance of His own appointment; rely on His special and particular providence; frequent the open fountain for purification; cleave to the saints in love, as the body of Christ; and disentangle our affections from the world, and set them on things above. This is the way, walk ye in it. Let nothing tempt you to leave it. Endeavour by all means to attract others to it. There is no path to heavenly bliss, Or solid joy, or lasting peace, But Christ, th’ appointed road: Oh, may I tread the sacred WAY, By faith rejoice, and praise, and pray Till I sit down with God. Bible League: Living His Word "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins."— Mark 2:22 NKJV New wine that is still going through the process of fermentation bubbles and expands. If you put it into an old wineskin, there will be a problem. Old wineskins have already been stretched to the limit by earlier batches of new wine and can't stretch anymore. As a result, the bubbling and expansion of the new wine will burst them. If you put new wine into new wineskins, on the other hand, everything will be fine. The new wineskins will expand to accommodate the new wine. The examples that Jesus uses in our verse for today were used in the context of a discussion on fasting (Mark 2:18-22). The new wine represents Jesus' new teachings – including His teachings on fasting (e.g., Matthew 6:16-18). The old wineskins represent the old practices of the Pharisees – including their fasting practices. The Pharisees fasted on a regular basis for legalistic and pompous reasons. Jesus' disciples, in contrast, fasted when it was spiritually discerned to be appropriate – like a special season of sorrow. While Jesus was with them it was not appropriate to fast, but when Jesus was taken from them it would be appropriate (Mark 2:19-20). Jesus' teachings aimed at the heart, not the outward behavior. In summary, Jesus is saying that His new teachings shouldn't be introduced into the context of old practices. New wineskins&mdashthat is, a new understanding&mdashis required. The legalism of the Pharisees cannot contain the new teachings of Jesus. If someone tries to introduce them anyway, then the old practices will burst because the new teachings will stretch them beyond their legalistic limits. Worse, Jesus' new teachings will then be diluted or lost in the old practices. Speaking more generally, when the teachings of Jesus are made known, or when insights into the teachings of Jesus are made known, it is mandatory for us to change our understanding order to accommodate them. The Holy Spirit is working amongst us. He is guiding us into the truth (John 16:13). Inevitably, the failings of our old practices will be revealed. Fresh practices must be created as our hearts are renewed by the Spirit. Let us always, then, be ready to exchange our old wineskins for new ones. Daily Light on the Daily Path Romans 12:12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,1 Samuel 3:18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him." Job 9:15 "For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge. Job 1:21 He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 2:10 But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. John 11:35 Jesus wept. Isaiah 53:3,4 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. • Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. Hebrews 12:6,11 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." • All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Colossians 1:11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!' But he will reply, ‘I don't know you or where you come from.'Insight Finding salvation requires more concentrated effort than most people are willing to put forth. Obviously, we cannot save ourselves—there is no way we can work ourselves into God's favor. Challenge The effort we must put out “to enter the narrow door” is earnestly desiring to know Jesus and diligently striving to follow him whatever the cost. We dare not put off making this decision because the door will not stay open forever. Devotional Hours Within the Bible Pictures of the KingdomMatthew 13:31-33 , Matthew 13:44-52 The parables of Jesus are unforgettable pictures. They are stories laden with truth. Some preachers tell stories which thrill those who hear them, and yet they are tales with no lesson. The parables of Jesus are rustic and interesting, and yet they are vital with spiritual meaning. The mustard seed is little, so small that one can scarcely see it. Yet it has life in it, and when it is sown in a field it grows and becomes a tree, so large that the birds come and nest in its branches. There would be no reason for our Lord’s telling us about this little seed and its plant merely as a bit of natural history. It is beautiful and interesting even in this way but He had a further purpose in His parable. He uses it as an illustration of His kingdom in the world. “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed.” Christianity began in a very small way. A little baby lay in a manger that was the beginning of the kingdom of heaven in this world. A kingdom implies a king. Christ ruled over a very small kingdom that night. His mother loved Him as mothers always love their children, and He reigned in her heart. Some shepherds came in during the night and saw the Child-King and worshiped Him. Their lives were never the same again, for one who has had a God-given vision of Christ can never lose the influence out of his heart. They returned to their lowly duty keeping watch over the flock but they were better shepherds afterwards and better men. The kingdom of heaven had entered their hearts. But the beginning of the kingdom was small indeed like a mustard seed. For thirty years it seemed to have no appreciable growth. The child grew but dwelt in a lowly home in a peasant village. His childhood was not unusual. He was not an unusual boy. There was no halo around His brow. Nothing showed that He was kingly. There were no flashings of divinity on His face. He did no brilliant things. He wrought no miracles. He went to school and learned His lessons but revealed no greatness. According to the customs of His people, he entered the carpenter’s shop at twelve as an apprentice, and for eighteen years worked at the carpenter’s bench. “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed… which indeed is smaller than all seeds.” We know what the kingdom of Christ is today. It has touched many lands with its holy influence. It has become a great tree with many wide-spreading branches. On its boughs the birds sit and sing. In its shadows the people rest. Its fruits feed the hunger of multitudes. The tree is still growing. The great missionary movement of today is extending it, and it is destined to fill all lands. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” The next parable tells of the pervasive and permeating influence of the gospel of Christ. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Usually in the Bible, leaven stands for something evil. It was a symbol of sin in the Mosaic dispensation. Paul exhorts believers to purge out the old leaven. But here it is used in a good sense. The teaching is very apt. Leaven works secretly and silently. It makes no noise. It works pervasively, creeping out through the dough until every particle of it has been affected. Thus it is that the influence of Christianity permeates society, penetrating everywhere, touching every institution, changing all things. The illustration may be widely applied. Thus individual lives are changed. The leaven of Divine grace in the heart works out until the whole character is changed. Henry Drummond in one of his books tells of a girl whose life was transformed into great spiritual beauty. Her friends wondered what had wrought the change. At length the secret was discovered in a verse of Scripture which she carried in a locket, “Whom having not seen, you love” (1 Peter 1:8). The leaven works also in communities. Neighborhoods are changed, transformed by the gospel. In mission lands there are many notable illustrations. The truest work of Christianity is quiet. It is a religion less of organization, than of personal influence. It is not always the most active person who does the most for the advancement of the kingdom of God; often it is the quiet man or woman whose life is holy and beautiful, who really does the most for the changing of other lives. Many an invalid, who cannot take any active part in the affairs of the Church yet exerts a sweetening and ennobling influence in a home, in a community, which far surpasses in its value the busy ministry of one who is always going about, talking, doing good. The lesson from the leaven, is that it does its work by being put into the midst of the loaf. It will not do any good if laid on the shelf; in however close proximity to the dough. It must be in the mass. There are some Christian people who seem to feel no responsibility for the touching or influencing of other lives. They incline to keep away from people and to be exclusive. But leaven will never do its work if kept away from people. Thus Jesus did He was called a friend of publicans and sinners. He ate with them and mingled with them in all social ways, and His pure, loving, gentle life left its impress on their lives. Jesus did not teach His disciples to hide away from people, to keep out of the world but to live in the world, to be friends of men, to seek to influence others by being with them. He said they were salt but salt to do its work, to perform its mission, must be rubbed into that which it is to preserve. We need to take the lesson. Be leaven wherever you are. Let your godliness be felt. Let your kindness touch others. Let your example have in it a contagion of joy, of peace, of unselfishness, of sweetness, of purity, which shall be a blessing everywhere. Be sure that you make one little spot of the world better, cleaner, whiter, brighter, gladder because you live in it. In another parable Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” There were no banks in ancient times, especially in unsettled countries. It was common therefore to hide treasure in the ground. Not infrequently did one come upon such concealed treasure. Of course, Jesus had spiritual treasure in His thought, as He is illustrating the kingdom of heaven. We do not dream of the wealth of invisible riches that are always close to us as we go through this world. A man may work for years in a field, digging and plowing over it, not thinking of anything of value in it, and then suddenly someday discover that there are valuable minerals or even gems hidden under his pick and plow. Dr. Newell Hillis says: Lecturing in Kentucky recently, I saw a cave of diamonds, newly discovered. One day a farmer, plowing, thought the ground sounded hollow. Going to the barn he brought a spade and opened up the aperture. Flinging down a rope, his friends let the explorer down, and when the torches were lighted, behold, a cave of amethysts and sapphires and diamonds. For generations the cave had been undiscovered and the jewels unknown. Wild beasts had fed just above those flashing gems, and still more savage men had lived and fought and died there. And yet just beneath was this cave of flashing jewels. We do not know what hidden treasures of spiritual good there are all the while so close to us that our hand could take them if we saw them. Sometimes we come suddenly upon them, and then we should instantly seize them and appropriate them, whatever it may cost us. The man in the parable sold all he had and bought the field in which the treasure was concealed. We should be ready to give up all we have to get the spiritual riches that we find. The parable of the pearl teaches almost the same lesson as that of the hidden treasure. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” The merchant sought goodly pearls the best that could be found. Then when he heard of this best of pearls, he was willing to give up all he had that he might possess it. Too often, we do not live for the best things. When we find something even better than the good we should be eager to possess it, no matter if we have to give up all we have to buy it. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 41, 42, 43 Psalm 41 -- David Psalms of Deliverance (2Sa 17) NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 42 -- BOOK 2: As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 43 -- Vindicate me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 24 Acts 24 -- The Trial Before Felix NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. |
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