We are in the middle of prayer emphasis week at Southwest Assembly of God, and the theme Scripture we’ve adopted is Galatians 6:2. “Carry each others’ burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Some time back, a couple of verses from the old testament about idolatry grabbed my attention: Bel bows down, Nebo* stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary. They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity. (Isaiah 46:1-2)
In these verses, Isaiah described the burden of idolatry. In contrast, we read and consider our great “burden bearer”, the One true God in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
He daily bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19) and invites us to cast our care on Him (Psalm 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:7). And as His hands extended, we followers of Christ help each other bear the load of life’s troubles through acts of kindness, words of encouragement and fervent prayer!
I’m grateful that the “load is lighter” because of my burden bearers – my Lord and my Christian brothers and sisters! May God be praised!
*Bel, the chief deity of Babylon, and Nebo, believed to be the god of learning, writing and astronomy, could not keep Babylon from being destroyed.