By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

True Friends

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” 
Galatians 6:2 English Standard Version

It is a true saying that if you want to know who your friends are, ask them to help you move.  It is an even truer saying that if you want to know who your true friends are, ask them to help you move a piano.  This is a picture of some of my true friends!

The other day I was speaking to a utility representative about transferring my electrical service back to my landlord.  The lady told me that it was my landlord’s responsibility to reconnect electrical service into his name.  I told her that I would tell my landlord to do this and she said, “Oh, that’s not your responsibility.”  And I replied, “But I will tell him because I am his neighbor.”

The Scripture tells us that we are to “bear one another’s burdens…”  We are to help one another when we are in need or weak or tempted.  We do this, not because we have to, but because Jesus helped us in our need and our weakness and our temptation.  Jesus did not say to His Father, “Oh, those people are not my responsibility.”  Instead He said, “Thy will be done.”

Jesus told us to love one another, especially those who are brothers and sisters in Christ.  I have the privilege of loving my neighbor and helping him bear his burdens because Jesus loved me first and best.  He is our truest Friend and in His grace we are given faith to not only trust God, but to love our neighbor.

Sometimes I fall short of loving God and my neighbor.  Then I am thankful for two things; that there is forgiveness in Jesus’ sacrifice for me, and that Jesus did not fall short but bore the burden of the cross all the way to Calvary.

Lord, give me faith to love you and my neighbor.  Thank you for the love and forgiveness I have when I fall short in that love.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado