COMPASSION IN COMMUNITY
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 (NLT)
I believe one of the greatest traps of the enemy is isolation. Just like predators in the wild will cut their target from the herd, so will our enemy seek to isolate us to make us easier prey. Think about some of the darker times in your life. I’d be willing to bet that no matter what you were going through, on some level you felt alone. If you think back to the creation account found in Genesis 1 and 2, you’ll recall that as God makes everything, He pronounces it to be good. Do you know the first thing that is proclaimed to not be good? Think about it for a moment. Your mind might go to Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve break fellowship with God by eating the fruit. But the first thing that’s called not good by God is actually found in Genesis 2:18.
It’s that man is alone.
God sees Adam by himself and declares that this isn’t good. So, He creates Eve. Right from the beginning, we see that being alone isn’t good. So, my question for you is, why do you continue to isolate yourself when you go through tough times? We need each other. You need to share what’s going on in your life with others so that you might experience the love and compassion of Christ through them. But that road goes both ways, meaning we must cultivate a Christ-centered community where others can come to us and share their burdens.
You’ve heard it said many hands make light the load. It’s true when you’re carrying something physically heavy. It’s also true when you’re carrying something emotionally heavy. We need each other. Consider the ancient African proverb: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
I don’t know about you, but I’m far more interested in going the distance than moving at a breakneck speed. We need each other.
APPLICATION:
Who in your life is sharing your burdens? Whose burdens are you sharing?
PRAYER:
Father, help me to honor You by living in compassionate, Christ- centered community. Please help me to be humble enough to share my burdens. Please help me to be intentional enough to share the burdens of others. Thank You for the gift of community; help me to cultivate it. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?