Daily Devotional - January 9th, 2026

“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2

“True compassion lifts weight without stealing strength.” — Alma Ohene-Opare

Commentary:

Bearing one another’s burdens is a sacred calling, but it is not a license to remove responsibility. When we confuses help with rescue, we weaken both the helper and the helped. Just as a muscle grows stronger under measured resistance, character grows when support is paired with accountability. Love that only cushions pain without addressing its cause delays healing and erodes agency.

Scripture teaches that moral law is balanced and precise. We are commanded to carry each other when the load is too heavy, yet we are also accountable for our own packs. Wisdom discerns the difference. Helping a neighbor mend a broken fence honors dignity; rebuilding it for them every time teaches dependence. Compassion must never excuse neglect of duty or surrender of effort. When help replaces growth, it quietly undermines freedom.

Christ modeled perfect balance. He healed the sick and fed the hungry, yet He also said, “Go, and sin no more.” He invited people to rise, walk, and follow. His mercy strengthened rather than softened resolve. To live Christlike is to walk beside others with steady hands and clear expectations, offering encouragement that calls forth their God-given capacity rather than shrinking it.

Scripture:

“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2

Daily Application:

Examine one relationship today and offer support that strengthens responsibility rather than replaces it.