It was a mundane, every-day experience of feeding my little one in his highchair that turned into a holy moment for me.

The feeding started off clean, but by the end of it, the dark purple berry and oats slop was EVERYWHERE! Covering his hands, smeared all over his tray, on the floor, and then brushed along all the places he touched- face, chair, hair, table, etc.

I wanted to stay as far away from his mess as I could. I mean, I don’t want that sticky goop all over me! It’s okay if it stays on him, but I’m not about to get it all over me too.

Then it hit me. No, in order for me to help him, I have to get in the mess with him. I have to get my hands dirty if I want him to be clean.

Isn’t that what we’re called to do as believers as well? When those around us are hurting or in need, we are not to be bystanders. We are to enter in with them. We are to share in their mess.

Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” This is our command.

But as we do this- as we help- we might get messy too. We might feel their burden, their hurt, and their pain. We might get covered in their “goop,” but this is necessary in order for them to heal.

This is a picture of the Church of Christ.

This is also exactly what Jesus did for us on the cross. He didn’t come to watch us in our hurt and pain. No, He came to offer us HELP- the greatest help there is- Salvation! God bore our sins and burdens on himself so that WE could be healed and whole in Him. He got ugly and took our mess upon himself so that we could be clean.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up [our] wounds” (Psalm 147:3).

Where have you experienced this ‘entering in’ to someone else’s mess? Or has someone done this for you?

hello, friend!

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