Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
As Christians. we must understand that we are one big family. We are the same members of a body - Romans 12 : 4-5 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and
these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
The early Christians understood this and demonstrated it by sharing - Acts 4 : 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. Can you imagine the members of your body being against one another? Imagine your mouth being against your hand? There would have been chaos!
We cannot be one, and still be against each other. We must graduate into true disciples of Christ, love and support each other. We have to support each other by praying for each other, taking time to care for the needs of others. Sometimes, all that a Christian brother or sister may need is a smile, other times a kind word.
Peter had been imprisoned, and was waiting to be killed the next day. His fellow Christians gathered to pray for him, and God sent His angel to rescue him from prison. Acts 12 : 1-5 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
The church supported Peter by praying with him, and this brought about his miraculous release - an angel came to his cell and walked him out of prison. Peter at first thought he was dreaming. Even the Christians praying for him thought he was an angel. They were dumb-founded! Acts 12: 6-17.
We must learn to selflessly serve one another by bearing each other's burdens. Learn to give like the Macedonian church, they gave out of their lack, and ensured to give themselves, first to God, then to man. They served God with a genuine heart, which was evident in their service to man. 2Corinthians 8: 1-5
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.
In verse 7 of 2 Corinthians 8, Paul encouraged the church at Corinth to excel in giving -
But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
Today, look around you to see who you can support with a smile, a kind word, prayer or financially. In doing so, you fulfil the law of Christ.
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