For each one shall be bearing his own load
Paul to the Galatians 6: 5, Concordant New Testament
There are those people out there who consistently refuse to take accountability for their own actions. Unfortunately, I was once again reminded of this truth this week, Some people refer to this as having a victim mentality, where anything negative which happens to them has nothing to do with their wrong choices, but will take each and every opportunity to find an excuse for their own actions. There are certainly many out there who play the part of the victim very well. The apostle Paul, as he so often does in his evangel, speaks to those who would conduct themselves in such a way. Paul speaks that "Each one shall be bearing his own load" {Paul to the Galatians 6:5}. What is Paul referring to in this passage? Well, I believe that he is referring to the truth that each of us will be having that responsibility for that which we do. If this were not true, Jesus would not have had to die for our sakes. For we were once found guilty for that which we had done. We could not place the blame on others for our own sin. Yet despite our guilt, the Father chose His love for us over that punishment for our sin. This is why Jesus shed innocent blood on our behalf {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}. Make no mistake, we needed to die, not Jesus. We were the guilty ones. Not by happenstance, bad luck or the meddling of others, the guilt was ours alone. I think that it's safe to say that playing the victim doesn't carry too much weight with God. For He knows our very thoughts and our heart {Jeremiah 17:10}. God is not influenced by the victim mentality. Nor should we be. I believe that at the base of much of this victim nonsense is that far too many people are unaware of their true identity in the Lord. Again, Paul speaks to this truth in his evangel. Paul realized that he, his old nature, had been nailed to the cross at Christ's side. What remains is Jesus {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}. It has never been our circumstances or the actions of others which has defined us, but Jesus Himself.
I rarely differ with the apostle Paul on anything, but I would like to add to his passage he speaks in Galatians 6. Paul speaks that "Each one shall bear his own load." But never let this confuse you that we ourselves are our own separate self or being. Those within the church are fond of teaching us that our sin has separated us from God. Nothing could be further from the truth. For there is nothing which could ever separate us from He Who created us {Genesis 1:27}. The author Norman Grubb speaks to there being "No independent, self-operating self in the universe" {No Independent Self ~ Norman Grubb}. The truth of who it is that we are is embedded in the truth that our life is not lived apart from God, but WITHIN Him. Jesus Himself speaks to the truth of our life within the Father in the gospel of John {Johns Account 14:20}. Now for the tough question, who is it that you're following? Are you following your own desires, ignoring the truth of your true identity? Or, are you hearing and following the leading of the Father in Whom you live? Paul speaks to the truth of "walking in the spirit" {Paul to the Galatians 5:16}. Not only that, for if we indeed follow the spirit of He in whom we now live, we will no longer fulfill the desires of the flesh. How can we be a victim for following the lead of the Father within us? Obviously we can't, and that's the entire point. Yes, each of us will be bearing our own load, But I choose that yoke of Jesus {Matthews Account 11:28-30}.
Now I am saying, walk in the spirit, and you should under no circumstances be consummating the lust of the flesh
Paul to the Galatians 5: 16, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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