Together as One: A Lent DevotionalSample

Day 4: Together with our community

Have you ever faced a challenge that felt too heavy to bear alone? Perhaps a kind word, a helping hand, or a prayer from someone lightened your load. Moments like these remind us of the truth in Galatians 6:2, ‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.’

Acts of love can transform communities

God’s calling to ‘carry each other’s burdens’ begins with individuals, but it can also inspire whole communities to collectively reflect Christ’s love by supporting and serving others. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), violence had divided one village in the Ituri province for years. But through Tearfund’s peacebuilding workshops, local churches held community dialogues, which involve gathering information and ideas from a group of people and using it to make changes. By listening, forgiving, and working collaboratively, these communities began to heal. What seemed impossible became a reality through the power of Christ’s love bringing unity.

As we continue to journey through Lent, we remember that Jesus carried the ultimate burden of our sins on the cross. In response, we are called to bear one another’s burdens, reflecting Christ’s love in our communities. We can learn from the Ituri community in the DRC, where carrying each other’s burdens through community dialogues brought renewed peace to people living in the area.

Patience, who took part in one of the dialogues, said, ‘Today, we no longer experience the tension between the two communities that we did before. We now live in peace. The teachings have set me free.’

Are you carrying any burdens at the moment? As well as bringing them to God in prayer, why not reach out to someone you trust and share it with them? Sometimes it can be hard to ask for help, but when we do, we give someone an opportunity to carry our burdens with us and in doing so, ‘fulfil the law of Christ’. Through sharing one another’s burdens, we can experience the blessing of community.

Reflect

• Do you know anyone who is struggling at the moment? Ask God to help you carry their burden, whether it’s through a kind word, prayer, quality time, or a practical act of kindness.
• Pray for communities like Patience’s in the DRC, asking God to bring healing and reconciliation where there is conflict and division.
• Why not commit to a week of intentional listening? Seek to understand the burdens people around you are carrying, and ask how you can help share their load.

Pray

Loving Lord,

Thank you for your great love and for sending Jesus to carry the ultimate burden of our sins. Help us to follow Christ’s example by bearing one another’s burdens with compassion and grace. Open our eyes to the needs in our communities and give us the courage to act in love and unity.

I pray for reconciliation in places torn by conflict, like the DRC, and for your church to be a light bringing hope and peace.

Strengthen my hands to serve, my ears to listen, and my spirit to walk humbly with you. Help me to fulfil the law of Christ by sharing in the struggles of others and reflecting your love in all I do.

In Jesus’ name, amen.