Day #14 “One Another” December 14, 2017
The Law!
The “law” is one of those words that has a number of different…but related meanings.
Of course there’s the police, or POlice (where I come from), or for you, maybe it’s The Law.
There’s the Biblical Old Covenant (Testament) Law that Moses gave to the Israelites only. The Bible says it was only for the Jews…no one else. There were 613 of those laws and the religious leaders added another 600 or so just for good (or bad) measure.
Sadly, many Christians believe they are under that law. They never were! And even for the Jews, Jesus fulfilled it, made it obsolete, set it aside, abolished, repealed, annulled and set it aside (as different translations say in Ephesians 2:15).
Then there’s the “extra” law that different abominations…I mean denominations, foist off on us. Like: Thou shalt not smoke, gamble, watch “those” kind of movies, etc.
None of those are valid laws under the New Covenant of Grace. They may contain some wisdom, but they don’t make a person one bit righteous or gain one tiny brownie point with God.
With God, there’s only one law – the law of love. Jesus told us to love one another as He loves us. A big part of that kind of self-less, unselfish, unconditional love is “carrying one another’s burdens.”
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6: 2)
Carrying (or bearing) one another’s burdens is not trying to fix it…or them. It’s not telling them how you experienced “the same thing so you know how they feel.” It’s not quoting Bible verses to them. It’s LISTENING!
First, we LISTEN to the Holy Spirit of Christ in us and ask Him what to say and what to do. Then we do that!
Second, we LISTEN to the other person and just be with them. Many times all another person needs is to know that you care and you’re with them.
Jesus doesn’t want us come up with a formula of what to do in any given situation. He doesn’t give us the resources to help everyone in every situation. He does give us GRACE and wants for us to minister that grace to other people.
So don’t beat yourself up if you or someone else tells you that you’re not doing enough. Listen to Jesus, say and do what He says, and you’ll be doing what He did on earth with His Father.
Grow in Grace, my friends! ~Paul Gray