Got a Heavy Burden? A Christian Devotional

1/25/2013

We weren't meant to carry our heavy burdens alone.

I found the little brown purse at a rummage sale years ago and discovered that it was perfect for me.

It was full of pockets and zippers and best of all, I could wear it on my back.

It was just right for a mother of small children who needed to have her hands free.

I could slip on the purse and be ready for zipping coats, gripping little hands in parking lots and pushing a grocery cart.

I did have a fellow tell me one day that I looked like I was getting ready to “take off” after I had suited up with my backpack purse. But I didn’t care. Keeping “my stuff” accessible and holding on to my kids was important to me, so I kept my purse. Fashion statement or not.

But over time, my backpack purse started to show signs of wear. And, I found that its coloring had an odd tendency to “melt” in the hot sun. ...

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June

1/28/2013 05:40:41 am

I thought of Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Sonia

3/4/2013 01:35:26 pm

I am carrying a big burden on my shoulder ,I've been accused of saying a racist comment on my job wich I've been suspended from work for something I never or even though about saying, lord knows my heart and he knows how bad I need my job I'm the only one working at the moment please pray for me that the people from HR will find justice and give me my job back " lord please hear my prayers let it be justice I leave it all to you to make that decision Amen

Debra Torres link

3/5/2013 04:34:42 am

Sonia, thanks so much for your heartfelt comment. I know that God hears your prayer. He never leaves your side. I am praying with you for His justice and I'm asking that all of your needs will be provided for. God bless you as you walk this difficult journey with your hand in His.
He never lets go.
Isaiah 30:18
New International Version (NIV)
18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!

Eoin

4/9/2014 10:31:15 am

The burden that breaks me daily is trying to be a Christian. I have many problems that I feel I manage quite well. Being a Christian on the other hand is something I almost always fail at. The scriptures tell me I have to do so much. It says that all cowards will go to hell, that if I sin after becoming a Christian I have no hope, that the luke warm will be spat out of the mouth of God, that most people will burn in hell, it commands that I be perfect. This is all in the new testament scripture. These scriptures seem to offset the image of a burdening carrying God. How do I follow this God when he makes so many threats? It seems to me that God is bullying people into following Him. Quoting nice scriptures does not solve this problem.

Debra Torres link

4/11/2014 05:21:50 am

Hi Eoin,
Thanks so much for sharing your heart here. It's so good to be honest. And I think that's what God prefers. I shared your comment with my pastor because I trust his wisdom and knowledge of the Bible. Also, I just felt like he would relate to you best on this subject. I pray it helps. Here's what he said:

Eoin,

Though I do not know you, I would like to share the Truth as best I understand it to lighten the burden that is breaking you. You are right, in that trying to meet God’s standard for heaven is impossible. The standard is perfection. Try as we may, we fail, and the wages of our failure is death (Rom. 6:23). The battle between our desire to please God and the desires of our flesh is nothing new – Even the Apostle Paul writes about his personal failure to do this (See Romans 7). We all fail, just as you do Eoin (Rom. 3:23). Not only do all cowards go to hell, all sinners period – of every kind, go to hell. When we rebel against the law of God, the penalty is great. From the beginning, the penalty of sin is separation from an all Holy God.

Your observation that "being a Christian... is something I almost always fail at" is correct. In fact, Eoin, this understanding is essential before coming into a relationship with God. This is called being “poor in spirit” – realizing we are utterly helpless before God to save ourselves.

But here is the good news – and these are not just “nice” Scriptures, these Scriptures are the answers to the burden you are carrying. Jesus did what we could not. He lived a sinless life (Heb. 4:15), and paid the penalty for our sins (Rom. 5:18). We can’t measure up to God’s standards. God understood this – and that’s why He sent His son to accomplish this for us (John 3:16). And now Jesus invites us to simply receive Him (John 1:12) and follow him (Mt. 11:30) – because His burden is light. When we receive Christ, we receive His righteousness (II Cor. 5:21) - and this is the level of perfection we cannot achieve on our own.

As a Christian, my hope now lies in the fact that it is Jesus who has done all that is necessary for salvation, and he offers that work to me as a free gift (Rom. 6:23, Eph. 2:8-9). I still struggle with sin, but God assures me of forgiveness when I do (I John 1:9). This is not the basis of my salvation, but Christ in me is. Trust in Christ alone Eoin. None of us can get to heaven on our own. The standards are too high. Christ has done the work for us – and invites us to receive Him as Lord and Savior from our sin. Having done this myself, I have found that following Jesus is a much lighter burden than trying to meet all the requirements of God’s law with absolute perfection. I hope this helps Eoin. Please feel free to contact our church (clarioncornerstone.com) if there is anything we can do to assist you in your walk with God and your understanding of the gift of Salvation he offers.

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