Jonathan Trojahn

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. – John 8:34

Monkey Minds? Have you ever thought how you might catch yourself a monkey? Probably not! It is quite simple; something a novice trapper can do. You take some peanuts and put them into a jar. The top of the jar is just big enough for the monkey to slip his hand into.The monkey grabs the peanuts, but with a clinched fist, he is unable to get his hand out of the jar. He will not open his hand and let go of the peanuts in order to be freed from his predicament.

Sounds kind of crazy doesn’t it? But maybe sin is making

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Hurricane Ivan caused massive destruction along the Gulf Coast and flooding along its north-eastward trek. This storm effected the lives of millions, and the cost in damages are in the billions. I recall in the Bible an account of a ship named Adramyttium, and it was being tossed upon the boiling and raging sea, whipped about by a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. There was a dear passenger aboard that ship, the Apostle Paul.

Before setting sail, Paul had warned the centurion that voyage will be with hurt and much damage (Acts 27:10). But the master and owner

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One Saturday afternoon, my son and I had just returned from church visitation.  A football game had just begun as we walked in the door.  Not knowing much about sports, I heard the sports announcers mention “home team advantage.”  I just figured it has to do with familiarity of the turf, lighting and such.  However, my son said, “Dad, it’s mostly about cheering fans.”   I decided to look it up, and sure enough, this is what I discovered.

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   We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good    to   edification.  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written,The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Romans 15:1-3

The weak in this verse may refer to a person weak in faith or overtaken in a fault or sin.  We are quick to find fault, to add injury to insult, to cast the first stone and regrettably elevate ourselves above them.  It is not our nature to bear the infirmities of the weak.  We can probably learn a lesson from the wild geese.

Consider the wild geese.  The V-formation they use in flying enables them to fly with ease and speed.  The point position is the most difficult because of wind resistance, so the geese rotate this position every few minutes.  The easiest flight is experienced in the two rear sections of the formation, and the stronger geese permit the young, weak, and older birds to occupy these positions.  It is also probable that the constant honking encourages the weaker geese.

Just where are you in this V-formation?  The Apostle Paul says, We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak.  Are you strong in faith?  Have you grown spiritually strong so that you can be like the Saviour?  If we fail to grow spiritually, it will affect others that need to see Christ in us.

If we are too busy pleasing ourselves, we ought to remember from verse 3, For even Christ pleased not himself.  Instead of despising the weak, we should be bearing with them.  Often the mercy God intended to bestow upon a burdened soul was meant to be delivered through you.

The words, to bear, do not simply mean to lift a burden from someone or to take it away.  It doesn’t necessarily mean that you should remove their burden.  It has another meaning we should consider. This word also means “to bear with, or to be indulgent to, to endure patiently, not to contend with…”  Perhaps, it is more than bringing someone a bag of groceries or a Christmas turkey and presents.  Maybe it means a long-term commitment or being there for them until their troubles are resolved.

Sure, you can set out on your own and fly by yourself, but if we are not taking our place in His church, we can not be in formation. We could all learn a few things about serving others from the wild geese and their V-formation. —Pastor Horst