SOME SONGS BY
CERTAIN VICTORY:

"Bear Each Other"

by Paul Lytle

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:1-2

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

She was waiting
Staring out the window at the stars
He came in, found her in the dark
Her heart broken, her mind very far
And he recalled

Bear each other's burdens now
You who have much share with those who are in need
Bear each other's burdens now
There are those still in bonds who must be freed

He was talking
Speaking of a dream that never came
In retrospect it all seemed very tame
How life had blossomed all the same
And so he did

Bear each other's burdens now
You who know should teach those who are confused
Bear each other's burdens now
That way none will be split off to be abused

He was working
Trying to build a life for the two
And she just whispered something very true
And beat the path and paved it right to You
And You said

Bear each other's burdens now
You who have much share with those who are in need
Bear each other's burdens now
There are those still in bonds who must be freed

Bear each other's burdens now
You who know should teach those who are confused
Bear each other's burdens now
That way none will be split off to be abused

*          *          *

Heavenly Father, I repent of the pride that says that I can do it alone. Break me of my stubbornness and deliver me to a community. Lord, You are faithful in your protection and love. Thank you for providing me with those who can help keep my eyes upon you. Amen.

Christians are made for community. There is no way around that; it is scriptural, it is logical. There are people who say, "I don't need anyone but God." That is perhaps true, but the devil licks his lips at boasts such as that, for he knows how easy it is to cause that person to stumble. Without someone to help us remain upon the narrow road, it is all that much easier for Satan to find something to tempt you away. That is not a statement about the strength of God, but the weakness of men. The enemy wants to separate us from the pack because he knows how to sever our connection with God. He's been doing it for millennia.

But if there is someone right beside us, another Christian, constantly checking up on our walk with Christ, it is easier to stay upon that road. We are supposed to (yes, even commanded to) stand with each other, to help each other along, to inspire growth in one another, and to help carry the burden of someone who is suffering.

This song tells of a small community, one as described in Ecclesiastes 4. It is just a man and a woman, and yet their cord has three strands, for God is with them. As they should, they shift their burdens between them. When the woman is low, the man carries more. When the man worries, the woman counsels him back to God.

On the same day I wrote this song, someone told me that I could not help her with a certain problem, that only God could. Well, God works in communities to keep everyone strong. It is not more "Christian" to wait on God to pick you up than your brother in Christ, because that is why God has given you your brother. It is not more "Christian" to shut yourself away with your problems than to let someone else comfort you. Why else have we been placed in such a tremendous hierarchy of leaders and mentors? The Body of Christ is meant to work as one.

Bear each other's burdens. In this we show the love of Christ, the very love that saved us in the first place.

-Paul

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