The Load is too Heavy
Our devotion today revolves around lending a hand to an overwhelmed friend. Yes, I mean assisting others with talents and gifts God has put in us. Here is our guiding passage Matthew 11:27-30.
The story below is a good example of what the passage means. Mark you, it is a real story that happened in some remote parts of Africa. Let us read together,
In most remote parts of Africa, the roads are impassable or not there at all. When it comes to transporting goods or any form of load, it is a nightmare. Many folks take it upon themselves to carry their wares/loads on their back, shoulders, or head. Mercy happens to come from a remote village in Kenya. Her father died when she was only one year old and was left with her mother. Her mother has been everything to her.
At the age of three, her mother started taking her to Sunday school. In Sunday school, they were taught many bible stories. Most of the stories made no sense to her, and she kept on asking her teacher many questions. Not being satisfied by what the teacher taught them, she would go home and pester her mother with many questions. Her mother only told her “my daughter you will soon understand.”
Then one day, their Sunday school teacher told them a very touching story. She told them how that morning, as she came to church, she had found a grandma seated beside a big load of firewood. The old woman seemed unable to lift or even carry the load. “I offered to assist the old woman by carrying the big load to her place.”
Mercy was curious, “why are you telling us this story?” The teacher just laughed and told Mercy. We are supposed to offer assistance to others when they are overwhelmed as the bible teaches us. If you want to show the mercy and love of God, emulate Jesus, He died on the cross and took away our loads of sin, the teacher continued.
Teacher, yesterday I found a certain kid struggling to carry a full 5-liter bottle of water but just passed by was I wrong. Mercy asked. Yes, Mercy you were wrong, the teacher told her.
Next time, I promise to lend a hand when I find a kid with a big load, Mercy told her teacher.
Did you know?
As Christians, we should assist others with the gifting we have. Assist a friend by showing them a way through a difficult situation. In doing so, you are fulfilling what Jesus did on the cross. He took away loads and loads of our sins.
Today’s Key Verse: Matthew 11:28 “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
Thank you, Benedict, for sharing this important message with everyone so that we too can better understand those who are facing challenging moments. This story in motivating, inspiring and a reminder to be thankful for what we have in our lives and to share our gifts and abilities with other when the opportunity presents itself to us.
Even helping someone in solving a thorny issue is reducing their soulish burden.
Taking blame for somebody’s mistakes is another angle to look at this matter.
Don’t you think, that is what Jesus did? He took our blames when He was blameless. These are some of the deeper areas one should look at this issue.