hi there and thanks for joining us for today's encouragement from our daily bread Karen Tempo wrote today's reading and she titled it lighten the load
 when the women in our newly-formed Bible study faced a series of tragedies we suddenly found ourselves sharing deeply personal experiences facing the loss of a father the pain of a wedding anniversary after divorce the birth of a child who is completely deaf the experience of racing to bring a child to the emergency room it was too much for anyone to carry alone each person's vulnerability lead to more transparency we cried and prayed together and what started as a group of strangers became a group of close friends and a matter of weeks as part of the church body Believers in Jesus are able to come alongside people in their suffering and a deep and personal way
 the relational ties that bind together Brothers and Sisters in Christ aren't dependent on the length of time we've known each other or the things we have in common instead we do with Paul and Galatians 6 calls carrying each other's burdens relying on God strength we listen we empathize we help where we can and we pray we can look for ways to do good to all people especially to those who belong to the family of Believers Paul says that when we do so we fulfill the law of Christ to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves the burdens of life can be heavy but he's given us our church family to lighten the load
today's our daily bread devotional scripture reading is from Galatians chapter 6 verses 1 through 10
 brothers and sisters if someone is caught in a sin you who live by the spirit should restore that person gently but watch yourselves or you also may be tempted carry each other's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ if anyone thinks there's something when they are not they deceived themselves each one should test their own actions then they can take pride in themselves alone without comparing themselves to someone else for each one should carry their own load nevertheless the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor do not be deceived God cannot be mocked a man reaps what he stows whoever so used to please their flesh from the flesh will reap destruction whoever so's to please the spirit from the spirit will reap eternal life let us not become weary in doing good
 brother proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up therefore as we have opportunity let us do good to all people especially to those who belong to the family of believers
 let's pray
 dear God thank you for walking alongside us no matter what we face help us to walk alongside others and their struggles showing them your love and that way today in Jesus name we pray amen
 thanks for listening today my name is Tony Collier and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries