When Help Is Needed

“Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2 (ESV).

In almost everyone’s life that I know about, there comes a time when help is needed.  Maybe you are a very independent type, one who keeps on bearing your own load rather than asking for help.  You may feel that seeking help shows an inherent weakness, and most of us do not like to own up to weaknesses and inabilities to do for ourselves.  In the context of this command from Paul to bear one another’s burdens, he begins with saying that if anyone is “caught in any transgression,”—that is, any who need help in finding their way back into fellowship with God and with Christian believers, those who are “spiritual,”—or those who have more experience and maturity in the Christian life—should lovingly help any who have stepped aside from following after Christ.  This is not to be done in a “holier than thou” manner, but in the love and Spirit of the Lord.  Helping them to “fulfill the law of Christ” probably refers specifically to “love your neighbor as yourself” as admonished in Matthew 22:39 and John 13:34.

I remember the wonderful group of youth it was my privilege to lead at Epworth First Baptist Church when my husband was pastor there.  God worked in a mighty way to call out several of them to full-time Christian service and many of them also became very faithful lay leaders in churches as they grew into committed Christian adulthood.  At one group session we were discussing why it is difficult to “love your neighbor as yourself.”  Rhonda, wise beyond her years, made the profound statement:  “Maybe it is because we do not love and respect ourselves.”  Her statement gave us all food for thought and a subject for further exploration.  And perhaps directly related to Rhonda’s statement that we do not love others because we do not love (respect) ourselves as we should, we also do not bear one another’s burdens because we are reluctant to allow someone to help us with our own burdens. 

Dr. Charles Stanley gave this timely statement in one of his sermons:  “The walk of  love  is expressed in a servant spirit.  You look to channel your talents and energies toward encouraging and stimulating others."  Bearing our own burdens is sometimes hard.  We often need help and should appreciate when others seek to assist us.  Likewise, in our Christian walk, it is not easy to seek to help others bear their burdens.  When we meet someone who is struggling, we should take the time and make an effort to help them.  And don’t forget to pray for them.   Eugene Peterson’s The Message translation of the Bible gives Galatians 6:2-3 thus:  “Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed.  Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law.  If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.”

                                                                                                                       -Ethelene Dyer Jones  10.27.2013

Be Reasonable

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.  The :Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV).

I could have chosen any number of words to comment on this encouraging teaching of Paul recorded in Philippians.  Often called the epistle of joy, or of exuberance, Philippians shows .  Paul using the Greek words for “joy” (“chara”) and “rejoice” (“agalliano”) more than a dozen times in the letter. 

Paul  admonished the Christians at Philippi not only to rejoice and have joy-filled hearts, but to be reasonable.  He seems to be calling them to draw a close connection between the saving work of Jesus Christ in bringing them into a right relationship with God, and the servant ministry of those who follow the Lord.   He teaches that it is reasonable to both live and die according to the pattern set for us by Jesus who suffered, died and rose from the grave and now is exalted at the right hand of God the Father.  Here in his plea for reasonable conduct:  Don’t worry but be thankful in every situation.  Accept the peace of God and allow him to “gird up” or make strong and immoveable your hearts and minds.

The true story is told of the Rev. Sidlow Baxter, a noted preacher of several years ago.  He told of being in Scotland in an evangelistic campaign and feeling extremely despondent and frustrated.  A feeling of foreboding was overpowering him.  He who was usually so enthusiastic and who had much zeal for the Lord’s work and especially for preaching the word was almost unable to function.  Night after night he went to bed weary and feeling like a failure.  Then one night it was as if an audible voice asked him:  “Sid, are you forgetting Philippians 4: 6 and 7?  You are forgetting to thank me, even for these frustrating and hollow times.  “Turn everything over to Me, Sid, and remember to thank me, even for these hard times,” the voice said to him.  The great preacher got out of bed, fell onto his knees and began thanking God for his frustrations and despondency.  It was as if the shackles were lifted from Sidlow Baxter.  He said of the experience:  “As I prayed with thanksgiving, the peace of God invaded my heart like a gentle zephyr.”  He had turned from near despair to reasonableness.  God was ready and willing to hear and answer Rev. Baxter.  But the preacher (as we must) first turned to God.  The turning was his ‘reasonable’ service.

Times and Seasons

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:  a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.” –Ecclesiastes 3:1-2.(ESV)

I challenge you today to read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, the preacher’s (writer of Ecclesiastes) poem which an editorial comment entitled “A Time for Everything.”  In this incisive poem, the writer declares that there is an appropriate occasion for every human event and activity.  He acknowledges that life is very complex.  There is a “time to” do so many of the things common to the human race.

In verses 9-15, he continues beyond his poem, “A Time for Everything” in verses 1-8 to consider the place of Sovereign God and how right and permanent are all of His works and his dealings with mankind.  “He has made everything beautiful in its time.  Also, He has put eternity into man’s heart.”…(Ecclesiastes 3:11)

In these beautiful fall days, as we see the changes that come in nature and how the growth season cycles into dormancy.  We realize the truth of verse 3:b:  “A time to break down.”  Every growing thing, including us human beings, goes through cycles of change.

Mary Oliver, noted contemporary American poet, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in poetry, wrote:   “To live in this world, you must be able to do three things:  to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones, knowing your own life depends on it; and when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.” 

Whatever the times and seasons of our particular life, change will come.  Change is inevitable.  There will be holding onto and releasing.  And the sooner we know, like Mary Oliver expresses, “when the time comes to let it go, to let it go,” we will have understood much about change, the times and the seasons, and how to “let go and let God” have His wonderful way.

                                                                                                   -Ethelene Dyer Jones  10.13.2013

Thoughts about God (V, W, X,Y, Z)

 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” –Genesis 1:1 (ESV)

“I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.’ –Revelation 21:13 (ESV).

V – Veritable is God in all His ways.

        Veracity and truth are His nature.

        Varied is His creation and valuable beyond imagination.

W  Wonderful is His name above every name.

       He is the Way.

       All “Whys?” can be addressed to Him.

       The “Whens” are in His hands.

       “Who am I that He is mindful of me?”

       He alone can make a person whole.

       He wields His power and the earth trembles. 

       His will is best for all; search for His will with all your heart and willingly follow Him.

X – With xylophones, harps and voices we exalt Him.

       He is worthy of our exaltation and He can fill our lives with exuberance and joy.

Y – Yahweh is His name, a name above every name.

        Willingly yield your life to God and seek and follow Him.

        He is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

Z – Zealous in all His ways, He expects his followers to show their zeal in following and

        serving Him.  With zeal characterized by heart service to Him, let us enter His gates

        with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.

                                                                        -Ethelene Dyer Jones  10.06.2013.