Great is our LORD, and of great power; His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:5 KJV.

Enter by the narrow gate…Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life. Matthew 7:13-14.

Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28.

And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 81: His blood poured out when they pierced His side. Psalm 22:14: I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within me. And, John 19:34: But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

I am reaching a point in my spiritual journey where I am seeing in myself what Paul wrote in Galatians 6:2-5: Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load. In Home Group last night we read each verse with intention, and the beauty of reading Scripture verses with others is that we learn together by sharing and exploring the depths of all that God is teaching for our good with Him and with others because we do not live this life in a vacuum. I have been struggling of late with equal and opposite forces working within me. Growing in love for Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, learning gladly from Scripture and from others who also love Him; and with all of that understanding, the creeping in of thinking I am “all that” and more…thinking I am something when I am nothing. And right on the heels of that, the struggles I am experiencing of anger and fear that blinds me to God’s goodness being done in this life we live – and – in myself and by extension, in others…But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone – and not in regard to another. The very struggles humble me. I am not better than anyone and we are all of us in this together. These words of Paul came to mind…Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren – I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14. For each one will bear his own load! It’s through the struggles that He helps me see all that is needed in me that His healing brings. And isn’t He bearing our burdens all? I must bear my own load but I do not do that alone. He helps me. And seeing together with Him and one another that we all experience struggles daily, we bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. To love God and to love one another with gentleness trusting all that is needed to our Creator. One of the hardest things for me to do is to trust God for the time it takes. I see family struggling and I want their healing now in my timing so I can be comfortable because my fear for the worst outcomes looms large in me. My load He is helping me see that I cannot bear alone without His help. That humbles me! And Paul’s last words to the brethren in Galatians and for us? The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen. His grace working with our spirit takes time He gives in His wisdom that is infinite.

***TO KNOW YOU LORD Jesus, let me know myself, know You, and desire nothing save only You. Let me do everything for the sake of You. Let me humble myself and exalt You. Let me think nothing except You. Let me die to myself and live in You. Let me accept whatever happens as from You. Let me banish self and follow You. Let me ever desire to follow You. Let me flee from myself and take refuge in You. Let me distrust myself and put my trust in You. Let me be willing to obey for the sake of You. Let me cling to nothing save only to You, and let me be poor because of You. Look upon me that I may love You. Call me that I may see You and forever enjoy You. Look upon us, O LORD, and let all the darkness of our souls vanish before the beams of Your brightness. Fill us with holy love and open to us the treasures of Your wisdom. All our desire is known to You; therefore, perfect what You have begun and what Your Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer. We seek Your face: turn Your face toward us and show us Your glory. Then shall our longing be satisfied and our peace be perfect. Lead us, O God, from the sight of the lovely things of the world to the thought of You, their Creator, and grant that delighting in the beautiful things of Your creation, we may delight in You, the first author of beauty and the Sovereign LORD of all Your works, blessed forevermore. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430). Adapted.***