It was the airplane that was based near my home (Donaldson Air Force Base, Greenville, South Carolina) during the days of my childhood. Actually teenage years as well. Build by the Douglas Aircraft Corporation, and named the C-124, Globemaster!
Joel (my Son who pastors in Doraville, Georgia) and I were recently driving home from a Revival Meeting near Savannah, and we passed an Air Force Flight Museum (at Robbins Air Force Base in Macon, Georgia). That’s where we saw the beauty pictured above!
Oh yes, one more thing. The “C” in C-124 stands for the word “cargo.” The place could airlift nearly 70,000 pounds of supplies, nearly anywhere in the world!
Now, today’s Bible Lesson …
A “burden bearer” for our nation, that’s what the Globemaster was for years and years!
And we Christians are to be the same, one to another! Paul wrote us in Galatians 6:2 and said: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
The verb “bear” used here is “bastazo” in Greek, likely derived from a word that means “foundation” or even “foot.” Things TOO HEAVY for one person to carry alone! So much so that he or she has dropped the load, at his or her feet. Needing help, clearly!
Moses and Hur come to mind, who LIFTED Moses’ heavy hands in the day of battle! Read the whole account, a spiritual “duo” fulfilling the role of “load lifters.”
“And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, AARON, and HUR went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. BUT MOSES’ HANDS WERE HEAVY; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and AARON AND HUR STAYED UP HIS HANDS, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” Exodus 17:9-13, lifting a load, for their leader!
Until victory came!
Wow!
Here’s burden bearing in the Old Testament, once again, in command form! Helping here, even an enemy! ” If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his BURDEN, and wouldest forbear to help him, THOU SHALT SURELY HELP with him.” Exodus 23:5
Romans 15:1 also. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Helping the weak! Help carry their “cargo,” so to speak!
In 1st Thessalonians 5:14 Paul succinctly says: “Support the weak.” Stand under them and hold them up, if need be. The liteal meaningof the verb “support!”
Mercy, and remember this too. JESUS CERTAINLY BEARS OUR BURDENS!
Even our sins, on the cross! 1st Peter 2:24 says so. “Jesus Who his own self BARE OUR SINS in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.” Amen, here “bare” is “anaphero,” actually He “toted our load” of iniquity, into the sea of God’s forgetfulness!
Today … should you meet a brother or sister in Christ who is burdened, you will immediately know WHAT to do!
“Lord, make us stronger. To help carry the ‘cargo’ of others who are temporarily weak in the faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Text me, 770-844-7627 if the lesson was a special help.