Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “A life of service”
Our Bible verse for today: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “People need you.”
I’ve always like the song “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother” by the Hollies. Some people think it’s a little sappy but I think there’s something about the storyline that speaks a great truth – we need each other. All of us need the help of kind and caring others to help us make it through. Here are a couple of lines from the song:
“The road is long, with many a winding turn, that leads us to – who knows where, who knows when.
But I’m strong, strong enough to carry him. He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.
So on we go, his welfare is my concern; no burden is he, to bear, we’ll get there.
For I know, He would not encumber me. He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother …”
It’s not a Christian song but it is based upon a Biblical theme. God wants us to help each other get through the tough times in life. Two days ago I wrote about the example from Exodus Chapter 17 when Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses. Moses was standing on a high hill observing the army of Israel engaged in battle. As long as he held his arms high in a gesture of blessing, the Israelites prevailed. But when he lowered his arms the tide of battle shifted and the Israelites began to lose.
So all day Moses attempted to keep his arms raised, but the effort exhausted him and he just couldn’t hold them up anymore. But then, along came Aaron and Hur. They moved a big rock for Moses to sit down on. Then they stood on each side of him and held his arms up for him. The way the text reads, they probably did that for hours. The end result was that the nation of Israel was blessed and they won the battle, but Moses could not have done it without their help.
In the book “The Sender” our friend Charlie had a transformative moment during which he decided he would spend the rest of his life holding up the arms of those who could no longer hold them up alone. In other words, he would look for those who were so beaten down by the circumstances of their lives that they just couldn’t keep going on their own. I’m talking about people who were physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted and they just could not keep going. Enter Charlie. He might not be able to solve all their problems for them, but he could be their friend; he could offer words of comfort; he could look for small ways to bless and encourage them. He was determined to help hold up the arms of those who could no longer hold them up themselves.
You could do this too. You could ask the Lord to open your eyes and help you notice those in your world who are so overwhelmed, so beaten down, that they can no longer hold up their own arms. And, you could help them. What a great act of service that would be. In fact, what a great life of service it would be for anyone to make it their purpose in life to help hold up the arms of those who simply cannot do it by themselves anymore.
But in order to do that your eyes have to be open, you have to pay attention and notice who in your world is in that shape. Tomorrow we will turn our thoughts to noticing.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 