Weekend Words

Are you burdened or blooming?  These are my Saturday and Sunday readings for this weekend from Beside the Still Waters... 

Who Carries Your Burden? - Read: Galatians 6

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2

The story is told of a man walking home from a local store with a heavy bag of merchandise on his back.  Along came a man with a horse and wagon, and he offered a ride.  The weary traveler gratefully accepted and climbed aboard.  Shortly the driver noticed that the passenger was still holding his bag.  "Why don't you set your bag down rather than holding it?" he asked.  "Well," replied the passenger, "you have been so kind in giving me a ride; I don't want to make you carry my load too."

How often have we brought a load of guilt and condemnation to the Lord, but then continued to carry our burden?  Satan would have us believe that our burden of guilt is either too great or too insignificant, and that no one else is as foolish or as much of a wimp as we are.  No one else ever struggles with such a thing; if I tell somebody about my burden, what will he think of me?

Today's key verse tells us to bear one another's burdens.  Most likely the burdens we carry are much the same as other people's.  Some are simply more honest and open in sharing what's in their heart.  Confessing our faults or the burdens we carry stimulates spiritual growth.  "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed" (James 5:16).

Confessing our faults gives us tremendous power in overcoming our weaknesses.  By doing so, we open ourselves to fellow believers who can pray for us and offer spiritual advice.  If you are on the wagon and still hanging on to your burden, ask someone you can trust to help you.  There is real rest in Jesus.

Denver Yoder - Somerset, OH

Bring your load of doubts and fears, All the burdens of the years,

You may meet your Saviour and His blessings share.

Bring your troubles not a few, Jesus will your strength renew;

Leave your burden at the place of prayer.

-Bertha Mae Lillenas

Blooming in Our Corner - Read 2 Kings 5

"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor" -John 12:26

As we go through our daily routine, our human tendency is to think that the next person has a better life.  We are inclined to feel that if this and that were improved, we would be satisfied.  The grass is greener on the other side of the fence, as the saying goes, and we somehow feel that we are missing out.  This is a rather shortsighted mentality.

Blooming in our corner is what God wants us to do.  Life is meant for living here and today.  Let's not wait until the new house is built or the garden yields a bumper crop or we feel perfectly healthy or we have more money.  Let's not allow any excuse to hinder us.

In today's Bible reading we find a young girl in captivity.  Now if any person ever had a right to whine, she would have been one.  But this maid had an attitude of respect and eagerness to help her master and his wife.  She could easily become bitter and spiteful, glad that her captor was smitten with leprosy.  Instead, she blossomed in her corner.  What a beautiful example of blooming in whatever situation life deals out!

How can we cultivate a positive outlook on life?  Is it not by the attitude of gratitude?  "In every thing give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  Being thankful is an excellent antidote to whining and pining.  So let's endeavor to bloom where we are and to bless every soul we meet.  Let us do good without respect of persons and serve regardless of circumstances, building on the example of Jesus the perfect Servant.

 John Ropp - Dannebrog, NE