In Galatians 6:1-2, it says, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
God left us a blueprint on how our relationships should look with fellow believers. He has called us to support one another. In these verses, He tells us that we are to hold each other accountable to see our relationship restored and strengthened in Christ. When we develop strong relationships with other Christians, we can both receive and give rebuke in love. We want our focus to be on His Kingdom, but sometimes we allow distractions to take our focus off Him. God often uses the people close to us in our spiritual lives to help guide us back onto the path that He wants us on.
He also calls on us to bear each other’s burdens. To bear something, you have to get involved physically, and you can’t bear it from the side or at a distance. We are directed to step in and help carry the weight of our brothers and sisters’ problems and trials in their lives. God allows all of us to go through difficult times to build and strengthen our faith. Our faith tells us we are not strong enough on our own, and we have faith that we serve a mighty God who is strong enough. When we carry others and allow others to help carry our burdens, we allow our own strength and will to be moved out of the way and make room for God to do His work.
We have had the opportunity to support River Hills Church’s men’s ministry. They are creating a space for men to come together and build those relationships. The men are finding people in their lives to not only help them grow closer to God through the lessons, but to walk beside them and encourage and celebrate God’s victories in their lives. It also gives them a group to lean on when they are going through one of those valleys in life or struggling with sin.
Creating groups and spaces like this is helping to empower the men who come to live out a Kingdom-focused life. Not only are they focusing on God’s direction for their life, but they are also creating bonds to lean on as they strive to be obedient to that call.
We continue to pray for the churches and ministries that God is using to grow His Kingdom. If there is something we can be praying specifically with you about, please reach out to creynolds@kingdom-growth.net.
