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“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2, NIV)

Lending an ear, extending a hand, or offering your heart in sympathy to someone in need fulfills the law of Christ. Carrying someone else’s burden seems easy enough, but as they say: “If it were easy, everyone would do it.”

We are tempted to by-pass others in need for the same reasons that those who know not Jesus by-pass persons in need: Helping others takes time. Bearing the burden of others requires us to be personally engaged. For these, and related reasons, we decline to help.

The law of Christ is simply stated but broad in its application. Welcome every opportunity to be the friend to others that you would like others to be to you. – Luther

Tagged cross-bearing, helpfulness, sympathy, the book of Galatians

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“Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:17-18, NIV)

The way of Christ is the way of the cross.

The way of the cross is the way of suffering, as defined as “sustaining injury, disadvantage, loss, or any unpleasantness.”

As disciples of Jesus, it is our lot to suffer; not for the sake of suffering, but in order to identify with Christ as He identifies with the persons that God created, and for whom He (Christ) died.

Remember this as an encouragement to suffer — with grace — all physical and emotional injuries; to suffer — with hope — each loss; to suffer — with patience — the unpleasantness of others; to suffer — with peace — the appearance of disadvantage.

Paul reminds us that every and each of our present sufferings — whatever they may be — pale in comparison to the glory that will be revealed in us when we see God face-to-face.

For each hurt, there is healing. For each loss, there is a greater gain; for every humiliation, a revelation of unassailable greatness. – Luther

Tagged Christ-likeness, cross-bearing, suffering, the book of Romans, the way of the cross

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“Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, even their own life — such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:25-27, NIV)

A disciple is a follower. A disciple aspires to be exactly like his or her teacher. As Jesus is Truth, we must be scrupulously truthful — and everything else He is, including a cross-bearer. Anything less is not true discipleship. Anything else is not obedience.

A disciple is holy. The disciple’s holiness is measured in the points of similarity to his or her teacher; and in the degree of difference from the “common way” in his or her way of thinking (e. g. love for enemies, blessings for curses, concern for the poor, readiness to reconcile, etc. . .).

Today’s scripture takes us to the bedrock of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus: Holiness, obedience, and cross-bearing. – Luther

Tagged cross-bearing, discipleship, the book of Luke