ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 17, 2026
Yesterday, during our Men’s Group meeting, after lifting up the joys and concerns of the congregation and praying over them, we discussed intercessory prayer. While the Christian faith has always emphasized that we don’t need someone to intercede on our behalf when going before God, it’s comforting to have those who stand in the gap, especially during challenging times. In Galatians 6:2, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Carry each other’s burden and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.” When Paul speaks of the “law of Christ,” the word for law from the original Greek is nomon, which can mean law or principle, sometimes described as a generally recognized rule of civilized conduct. I believe the nomon of Jesus would be the two Great Commandments—to love God and neighbor. We fulfill the convergence of these two expressions of love as we help carry the burdens of others. Love of God and neighbor is not intended to be discussed in the theoretical, but made real as we come alongside others who find themselves uncertain of how they will take another step under the weight of what they are trying to carry. Sometimes we can carry someone else’s burden for a while or assist them in doing the heavy lifting. Other times, we might be able to help them set the burden down, even if it is only for a little while. God doesn’t need an intercessory, but when trouble has hit us hard and we are left shaken to the core, it is good to have someone who represents for us a gracious mediator whose actions remind us that God, through love, has always seen us and responded to us. Goran Persson, a Swedish politician, wrote:
Remember, the burden of
sorrow is doubled when it
is borne alone.
Holy and Gracious God, encourage us to release any sort of lone actor mentality, any sort of ego-centric voice that tells us we must do it alone. Help us to accept those you have invited to walking alongside us, to encourage us, and to join us in carrying the burdens that can leave us exhausted and feeling powerless. Amen.
