Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Carry one another's burdens - Okay, I can live with that! Sign me up!..... Um, what exactly does that mean? I have been pondering this verse lately, as it is clear here and elsewhere in Scripture that we as Christians are called to bear eachother's burdens. The thing is, I still am not sure that I have a firm, concrete grasp on the concept.
You see, I have a friend right now who is burdened. It hurts me deeply to see them in such pain. It brings me to tears to see their sorrow and confusion. I have begged God to let me carry their fear, their pain, their sorrow, their doubt and uncertainty. If there was a way to physically take it all away and bear it, believe me, I would. But even if there was a way to just lighten the load a little bit, I would take that too. I should move on and make my point before the tears come, unbidden, once again.
I want to know what you think, (anyone who actually reads this thing). What does bearing one another's burdens entail? Is it truly a physical bearing of burdens? - like what Christ did on Calvary, where He carried my sin, shame, sorrow, and brokenness? Is it "sharing the load" by helping in any way they need? Is it simply being there, and carrying them before the Lord in prayer?
What do you think? I am interested to see what you have to say! =)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Life and Love - or Loving Life!
This is likely the most sappy thing I have ever written (unless you read my journals - heaven forbid :)
I'm not really sure why I want to write about loving life so much. It may have to do with the beautiful weather we have had for the past few days. Sunshine always puts me in a good mood. But loving life goes beyond weather, beyond circumstance. Love of life is similar to having joy. It is something that trancends weather, circumstance, and emotion. Currently, it is overcast outside, I have no idea how I'm going to rasie enough money to pay for school, and the headlines shout nothing but bad news. So why on earth can I be loving life?? My cold, logical side screams reality at me, and demands that I wipe that smile off my face. This is real life. Life is rough, etc. And its partly true.
However, I see one reality, sitting high above the rest, that will not be ignored: God is on the throne; He is sovereign, and He is good. I'm rereading this sentence, thinking, "can I reword that so it sounds less cliche and "Christian-ese-ish?" But that is the truth. Above all that goes on in my life, good or bad, God is ultimately in control. This makes me feel like singing and dancing, shouting at the top of my lungs. Everything else pressing upon me seems so small in comparison to this truth!
I have been studying the end times and have realized something. Studying about the end times puts all human suffering, dire circumstance, and other depressing events into perspective. I see that 1) It has not always been this way, 2) It is not supposed to be this way, and 3) it will not always be this way. That last one is the one that causes my heart to surge with hope and joy. I am in waiting - waiting for a world with no more fear, pain, sorrow, or sin. I wait in joyous expectation for my Savior to return and put all things right. No matter what happens to me, come what may, in the perspective of eternity in the presence of God the present sufferings lose their power. This is the perspective of the apostle Paul, when He wrote, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18). He understood that the suffering we go through will be "light and momentary" compared with the eternal glory "that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Do not misunderstand me. If you are currently walking through fire, or find yourself in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I am in no way trying to make light of your sorrow, nor impying that you somehow lack faith if you grieve. Pain comes, and when it does, you can mourn. And those of you who know someone going through a season of sorrow, weep with them, be there for them in this season. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" (Romans12:15). But what I am saying is take time to look toward eternity, toward forever in the presence of God. Look forward to the day when sorrow, sin, and death are banished forever. That perspective, though it won't make all the pain disappear, will keep sorrow from swallowing you, and keep utter despair at bay.
So, in conclusion, life throws so much our way. But those of us who trust Jesus Christ as Savior have eternal life. Eternal life starts now! I guess its not so much that I love just this earthly life, but I love Eternal Life! We have a life that will never end - and that is a life worth living for, a life worth loving. This is what God offers to those who accept His gift of salvation. Freedom from sin, from death, and a promise of eternal glory in the presence of God that far outweighs any circumstance on earth. If you have not accepted this gift - don't hesitate. For whatever you walk through, whatever road God leads you down in life, He will always be with you, and He has promised that through the blood of Jesus we may live in eternity with Him.
Be blessed, love and serve God, and love Life! "Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace"
As always, if you have any questions or prayer requests, don't hesitate to email me at Theologynerd330@gmail.com
I'm not really sure why I want to write about loving life so much. It may have to do with the beautiful weather we have had for the past few days. Sunshine always puts me in a good mood. But loving life goes beyond weather, beyond circumstance. Love of life is similar to having joy. It is something that trancends weather, circumstance, and emotion. Currently, it is overcast outside, I have no idea how I'm going to rasie enough money to pay for school, and the headlines shout nothing but bad news. So why on earth can I be loving life?? My cold, logical side screams reality at me, and demands that I wipe that smile off my face. This is real life. Life is rough, etc. And its partly true.
However, I see one reality, sitting high above the rest, that will not be ignored: God is on the throne; He is sovereign, and He is good. I'm rereading this sentence, thinking, "can I reword that so it sounds less cliche and "Christian-ese-ish?" But that is the truth. Above all that goes on in my life, good or bad, God is ultimately in control. This makes me feel like singing and dancing, shouting at the top of my lungs. Everything else pressing upon me seems so small in comparison to this truth!
I have been studying the end times and have realized something. Studying about the end times puts all human suffering, dire circumstance, and other depressing events into perspective. I see that 1) It has not always been this way, 2) It is not supposed to be this way, and 3) it will not always be this way. That last one is the one that causes my heart to surge with hope and joy. I am in waiting - waiting for a world with no more fear, pain, sorrow, or sin. I wait in joyous expectation for my Savior to return and put all things right. No matter what happens to me, come what may, in the perspective of eternity in the presence of God the present sufferings lose their power. This is the perspective of the apostle Paul, when He wrote, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18). He understood that the suffering we go through will be "light and momentary" compared with the eternal glory "that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Do not misunderstand me. If you are currently walking through fire, or find yourself in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I am in no way trying to make light of your sorrow, nor impying that you somehow lack faith if you grieve. Pain comes, and when it does, you can mourn. And those of you who know someone going through a season of sorrow, weep with them, be there for them in this season. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" (Romans12:15). But what I am saying is take time to look toward eternity, toward forever in the presence of God. Look forward to the day when sorrow, sin, and death are banished forever. That perspective, though it won't make all the pain disappear, will keep sorrow from swallowing you, and keep utter despair at bay.
So, in conclusion, life throws so much our way. But those of us who trust Jesus Christ as Savior have eternal life. Eternal life starts now! I guess its not so much that I love just this earthly life, but I love Eternal Life! We have a life that will never end - and that is a life worth living for, a life worth loving. This is what God offers to those who accept His gift of salvation. Freedom from sin, from death, and a promise of eternal glory in the presence of God that far outweighs any circumstance on earth. If you have not accepted this gift - don't hesitate. For whatever you walk through, whatever road God leads you down in life, He will always be with you, and He has promised that through the blood of Jesus we may live in eternity with Him.
Be blessed, love and serve God, and love Life! "Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace"
As always, if you have any questions or prayer requests, don't hesitate to email me at Theologynerd330@gmail.com
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Death
Death. This is probably one of the most avoided topics on the planet. But why? Death is one event we will all experience, but no one has personal experience with death – well, everyone will, but no one lives to tell about it. Death is an avoided topic for 2 main reasons. First, it is uncomfortable and confusing. Second, it is just downright scary. Death is forever – no one recovers from death; death leaves in its trail sorrow, pain, unfinished business, regret, fear, and anger. Come to think of it, to the average person, death has significant power in (and sometimes over) life.
I’m not trying to be intentionally morbid. The reason I’m writing about this particular topic today is that my family just received news that my Grandfather has terminal pancreatic cancer and only 3-12 months to live. Maybe the problem with death is that, for a permanent event, the idea is shrouded in obscurity, making our understanding of it elusive at best, like trying to grasp water. So I began to think – what do I KNOW for sure about death?
1. It is permanent
2. It is a step that all must take eventually
3. It is something we all experience secondhand at one point or another
4. It is one of life’s most frightening unknowns.
Maybe you’re thinking – “Its not obscure. Death is simple – it is the point where life stops, when the heart stops beating, the blood stops pumping, etc.” I have to concede that, on a physical, biological level, death is very simple. It is easy to explain how a person dies. It is much more difficult, however, to simply dismiss all the philosophical baggage that inevitable comes with someone’s passing. All the great philosophers pondered death and the afterlife, and all the amateur philosophers (ie – everyone else on the planet) ultimately ponder death as well – even if it is none other than their own.
While I could sit here and ponder and hypothesize and philosophize until the cows come home, there is one other thing about death that I am absolutely certain of: Jesus Christ, God the Son, defeated death. He has tasted death and still lives to tell about it. With His perfect sacrifice, He defeated sin’s power, and with His resurrection, He shattered the power of death over all who choose to believe on Him. Ponder that for a moment. Death – the step we all take alone, the event that provokes regret, sorrow, anger, and fear – has been utterly defeated!! All of us who trust Jesus Christ as Savior receive death as our entrance into eternity in the presence of the Living God.
Yes, death is still a sad event. Death is still full of unknowns. But Jesus Christ has tasted and defeated death; He knows all that death and dying entails. So while there is still much we don’t know, those of us who are children of God know one thing – Jesus has told us that death is no longer something to fear. “Where, O death is thy victory? Where, O death is thy sting?”
I’m not trying to be intentionally morbid. The reason I’m writing about this particular topic today is that my family just received news that my Grandfather has terminal pancreatic cancer and only 3-12 months to live. Maybe the problem with death is that, for a permanent event, the idea is shrouded in obscurity, making our understanding of it elusive at best, like trying to grasp water. So I began to think – what do I KNOW for sure about death?
1. It is permanent
2. It is a step that all must take eventually
3. It is something we all experience secondhand at one point or another
4. It is one of life’s most frightening unknowns.
Maybe you’re thinking – “Its not obscure. Death is simple – it is the point where life stops, when the heart stops beating, the blood stops pumping, etc.” I have to concede that, on a physical, biological level, death is very simple. It is easy to explain how a person dies. It is much more difficult, however, to simply dismiss all the philosophical baggage that inevitable comes with someone’s passing. All the great philosophers pondered death and the afterlife, and all the amateur philosophers (ie – everyone else on the planet) ultimately ponder death as well – even if it is none other than their own.
While I could sit here and ponder and hypothesize and philosophize until the cows come home, there is one other thing about death that I am absolutely certain of: Jesus Christ, God the Son, defeated death. He has tasted death and still lives to tell about it. With His perfect sacrifice, He defeated sin’s power, and with His resurrection, He shattered the power of death over all who choose to believe on Him. Ponder that for a moment. Death – the step we all take alone, the event that provokes regret, sorrow, anger, and fear – has been utterly defeated!! All of us who trust Jesus Christ as Savior receive death as our entrance into eternity in the presence of the Living God.
Yes, death is still a sad event. Death is still full of unknowns. But Jesus Christ has tasted and defeated death; He knows all that death and dying entails. So while there is still much we don’t know, those of us who are children of God know one thing – Jesus has told us that death is no longer something to fear. “Where, O death is thy victory? Where, O death is thy sting?”
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