Bearing One Another's Burdens

...they forced him to carry the cross....(Mark 15:21)

I often wonder what it must have been like to be Simon, the Cyrene. He was forced by the Roman officials to carry the cross from outside the city gates to Golgotha, because Jesus was physically too weak to carry it any longer. 

I wonder if he understood what he was doing as he journeyed with the Savior of the world to the crucifixion. Although Jesus was too physically weak to carry the nearly 100 pound cross bar He still walked right beside Simon. I wonder if they linked arms, or if Simon helped hold Jesus up as they journeyed together to Golgotha. I bet he was afraid. I would be too. I wonder if he knew Jesus as his own Messiah or if he knew him only as a religious figure. I wonder if on their journey he looked Jesus in the eyes and saw the fierce compassion of a loving Savior who was "led like a lamb to the slaughter." (Is. 53:7) 

I've asked myself, why is this in the biblical narrative? What is God trying to show us? As I've asked Him to show me why I believe there is one point of application, to me, that stands out. 

This account is meant to be a picture of the church in action. There will be many times in my life when my burdens seem to great to bear. That's when my brothers and sisters in Christ within the church are meant to walk with me, helping me bear my burdens. Maybe they will pray for me, make a meal, clean my home, help financially, watch the kids, or sit and listen during the greatest storms and tragedies of my life. 

In those moments we practice "bearing one another's burdens." (Gal 6:2) We walk with our beloved friends, shoulder to shoulder, helping them bear their burdens when they are too weak and beaten down to do it themselves. 

There's an old Bebo Norman song I have always loved, called "Borrow Mine" some of the the lyrics say, 

Take my hand and walk with me a while
'Cause it seems your smile has left you
And don't give in, when you fall apart
And your broken heart has failed you

I'll set a light up on a hilltop
To show you my love for this world to see

You can borrow mine when your hope is gone
Borrow mine when you can't go on
'Cause the world will not defeat you when we're side by side
When your faith is hard to find, you can borrow mine, borrow mine

And take my love when all that you can see
Is the raging sea all around us
And don't give up 'cause I'm not letting go
And the God we know will not fail us

Side by side, the church in action, bearing one another's burdens. Now that, is something beautiful. Let us live like that today! For God's glory!

Fearing Rest

I think people fear rest. 

Although many people, myself included, need it desperately, we fear what it might reveal. We fear if we slow down we might actually have to deal with the hurt and pain that lingers deep within. We fear we won't measure up or be able to keep up with everyone else. We fear we won't make enough money or are children won't be the starting player, so we stay busy, really busy. We run 1,000 miles per hour thinking that we're doing what's best. Yet, if we took just a moment to sit and rest we'd find that our souls are actually worn to the bone, our hearts are not full, but empty and our minds are not at peace, but filled with anxiety. 

Instead of creating time for rest we add more and more to our plate and before we know it we have quickly become our child's chauffeur; instead of their wise counsel. We don't know who are spouse is anymore, because we only see them in passing. Sure we sit next to them from one sporting even to the next, but there's no real intimacy there. Now one is really sure when the last time the family actually sat down to a meal together was because, everyone is-busy. 

I think in order for families to be healed someone's going to have to say, enough is enough. I'm choosing to rest, because that's what is best for my own health, my children's well-being and my relationship with my spouse. 

Otherwise we'll continue to run ourselves into the ground reaching for depression medication, the divorce papers and blowing up at our kids, because we're not taking time to rest. 

I think God wants us to rest. 

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."- Matthew 11:28 

Even Jesus rested (Mark 6:31). We should too.

I think when we rest, a death happens. A death to fear, anxiety, worry, anxiousness and anger. A new life begins when we rest with God. It's there where He refreshes our hearts, gives us new hope and places His joy in our hearts. 

When we choose to make a commitment towards rest, true transformation happens as we hide ourselves in God's word. That is where we spring forth to new life in our minds. The lies come crawling up to the surface, the pain becomes un-earthed and Jesus, our healer comes in to make us new. 

I want that kind of rest. Go ahead, you can have that kind of rest too. Don't worry about what others might think, just go and be with Jesus.