Based on Galatians 6:1-5 (New King James Version)
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.”
In today’s passage, we see a clear example of how to fulfill the law of Christ, which consists of loving our neighbor as ourselves. And loving our neighbor consists in helping them in very practical and meaningful ways, with things like true physical needs (not with likes or whims or greed), but even more importantly, with spiritual things. We need to help each other in every way possible, but principally, with our walk in the Lord. This is part of God’s true will. But, how can this be done?
The first point has to do with the matter that if we are in conditions to be able to help. For example, a rescue swimmer (someone that is not spoken of very much, but when you do need one, you need them as quickly as possible) cannot be a good one unless they are first good swimmers, but not only good enough for themselves, but also, strong and sufficiently good of a swimmer to be able to effectively help rescue another person. Otherwise, how can they help rescue someone else if they don’t even have the ability to save their own life? And what also must be considered with a rescue swimmer is that they should have enough training and ability to be able to save someone in a storm and in turbulent waters. A rescuer will not always have the luck of saving someone during calm weather when everything is in peace. Many times, rescue swimmers need to go save people in shipwrecks, in the middle of storms, in very dangerous conditions, between huge waves and large rocks, where they risk their lives to save others. And so, it is not that simple to just go and help someone, especially considering the times we are living in, but it is our duty before God.
So, how can we make sure that we are in conditions to be able to help? We must always go to what is first, to love God with all of our being, the first and greatest commandment. And the way that starts is when we surrender ourselves to the Lord by giving Him our life, because that is the first and most important step of all, for our own good. Because what do we gain in helping others when we don’t even know what we are doing and why we are doing it? We must first be very clear in that we are in a secure place before going on and helping others. The Bible gives us the following key story which explains this concept: “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” John 3:1-7. So then, we need to be born again in Christ, and this consists of being born of water which refers to John’s baptism, the baptism of repentance, where a person repents from all of their sins; and of the Spirit, where a person gives their heart to the Lord, surrendering themselves completely, without reservations to His Lordship. The Gospel of Mark tells us how the Lord’s public ministry started in the following: “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” Mark 1:14-15. So, new birth in Christ is what starts everything in a person, through repentance and faith.
Now then, what happens when a person is born again? God literally comes to dwell in our hearts. The great miracle occurs where God comes to live within temples not made by human hands. This is what the Word continues explaining regarding this: “Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, ‘Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.’” John 14:22-24. And when God comes into our life, the Helper, the Holy Spirit also comes in, and He is the One that will guide us, as it is also written: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:12-14. So then, the matter of being able to grow and understand things do not necessarily consist of intellect, but rather, the Holy Spirit is who teaches and instructs, but through the Word of God. Because we must also keep something very clear, that neither the Holy Spirit will teach something that goes against the Word of God nor will the Word of God teach something that goes against the Holy Spirit. Both agree perfectly because they have the same source: God. That’s why it is absolutely impossible to believe that there are many paths to God and that all religions take you to the same God. There is only one way to the true God Almighty, and that is Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and the Word of God agree with Him.
And finally, a person can’t just say that they believe in God and that they want to help someone, but rather, a person must look to do God’s will which consists of following and fulfilling the Word of God in their life. For it is also written: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23. So, if you have been born again in Christ, and you are being guided by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, looking to fulfill God’s will in your life, not only will you be able to have God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, but also, you will be able to help your neighbor find that same salvation, the one that the whole world needs. This is the best way you can help anyone. And so, do you understand how you can be able to help yourself and all of those around you? Lord bless! John