The Wonderful Cross: Bearing Burdens and Running Our Race

The Wonderful Cross: Bearing Burdens and Running Our Race

Have you ever witnessed a moment of pure, selfless support that left you in awe? Picture this: a high school cross country meet on a crisp Saturday morning. Runners from various schools line up, ready to tackle the challenging course ahead. But as the race unfolds, something extraordinary happens. The spectators lining the course cheer not just for their own team, but for every single runner who passes by. First or last, it doesn't matter - encouragement rings out for all.

This beautiful display of community spirit serves as a powerful metaphor for how we, as Christians, are called to support one another in our spiritual journeys. It's a vivid illustration of the message found in Galatians 6, where the Apostle Paul offers profound wisdom on how to live in Christian community.

Paul's letter to the Galatians was written to correct some misguided teachings that had crept into the church. False teachers were insisting that Gentile converts needed to follow all aspects of Jewish law, particularly circumcision, to truly follow Jesus. Paul firmly refutes this, reminding the Galatians that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not through works of the flesh.

In the final chapter of Galatians, Paul presents two truths that, at first glance, might seem contradictory. Yet, when understood properly, they form the very foundation of a thriving Christian community.

The first truth is found in Galatians 6:2: "Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." This verse speaks to our fundamental need for community. None of us are meant to walk the Christian path alone. We need each other for accountability, support, and encouragement.

But what does it mean to bear one another's burdens? It's about coming alongside our brothers and sisters in their struggles, whether they're grappling with moral failures, personal challenges, or the weight of life's difficulties. It's about extending love, kindness, and practical help when needed. This mutual support is a privilege of being part of the body of Christ.

Importantly, this burden-bearing should never come from a place of judgment or superiority. Instead, it should be motivated by love and a genuine desire to see others grow in their faith. It's about lowering ourselves, much like a first-century slave, to lift up those who are struggling.

The second truth Paul presents is found in Galatians 6:5: "For all must carry their own loads." At first, this might seem to contradict the call to bear one another's burdens. However, Paul is striking a crucial balance here. While we are called to support one another, ultimately, each person is responsible for their own spiritual journey.

Think back to the cross country runners. The spectators can cheer, encourage, and even help an injured runner. But they can't run the race for them. Similarly, in our faith walk, while we can offer support and accountability, we can't do the work of spiritual growth for someone else. Each of us must stand before God on our own.

This dual reality of communal support and individual responsibility is beautifully captured in Paul's agricultural metaphor: "You reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit" (Galatians 6:7-8).

Our choices matter. The spiritual seeds we plant today will determine the harvest we reap tomorrow. This is why Paul urges us, "So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).

As we navigate this balance of communal support and individual responsibility, we must never lose sight of the foundation that makes it all possible: the cross of Jesus Christ. Paul declares, "May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14).

The cross is the ultimate expression of God's love and the source of our salvation. It's through the cross that we find the strength to die to ourselves and truly live the abundant life God intends for us. As the hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" beautifully expresses:

"Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood."

The contemporary refrain added to this classic hymn captures the paradoxical nature of the cross:

"O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross,
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live.
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross,
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless your name."

This is the heart of the Christian journey - dying to self so that we might truly live in Christ. It's a journey we're called to make both individually and as a community of believers.

As we reflect on these truths, let's consider how we can better support one another in our faith walks. How can we create a community that cheers each other on, bears one another's burdens, and encourages each person to run their own race well? And in all of this, how can we keep our eyes fixed on the wonderful cross, the source of our hope and the foundation of our faith?

May we, like those cross country spectators, create a community where everyone is encouraged, supported, and cheered on as they run the race set before them. And may we never lose sight of the wonderful cross that makes it all possible.