Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Friday, June 22, 2018

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."¹

Pastor Tod Bolsinger shares the following story about two members in his previous church: "Gus and Hal are widowers.  Octogenarians both, they have become friends since their wives passed. It's getting harder for both of them to go to church on Sundays, but to be sure when they are there, they are there together.

"Hal is blind. Gus is an amputee confined to a wheel chair. When they go to church, Hal pushes Gus and Gus directs Hal. They make their way through the parking lot and the patio to their place together in the pew. And together, and only together, they go to church. A blind man who can't see giving energy to a man who can't walk. A lame man who can't move giving direction to a man who lacks vision. But together, they worship, take part in community and offer their gifts, and, well, inspire a whole lot of us."²

Isn't this what Christianity is all aboutâ€"supporting one another, caring for one another, and working together with one anotherâ€"for the cause of Christ. In Christ's ministry on earth it was almost always in conjunction with one or more of his disciples. He sent out the 70 messengers two by two. Peter, James and John ministered together, as did Paul and Barnabas; Paul and Silas; Paul, Silas and Timothy; Barnabas and John Mark; and Priscilla and Aquila. We, too, need to care for each other, support each other, and work together for the cause of Jesus Christ and the spreading of the gospel.

Suggested prayer:  "Dear God, thank you for the example set for us by Jesus Christ, the early disciples and the first Christians. Please help me to be a partner in caring for, supporting, and working together with fellow Christians to be a part of the work that you are doing in the world today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Galatians 6:2 (NKJV).
2. From Tod Bolsinger's blog, "It Takes a Church."

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