Lift Them Up
Toward the end of the eighteenth century, James Wells told a story, in his book, The Parables of Jesus, of a young girl carrying a big baby boy. Seeing her struggle, a passer-by asked her if she wasn’t tired. With surprise she replied; “No, he ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.” This phrase caught on and was used by different people at different periods of time to encourage their generation to sacrifice in helping others. The Hollies, in 1969, and later, Neil Diamond, in 1970, recorded a musical ballad with this title, which became worldwide hits.
So often, people need lifting up. They can get weighed down by all the burdens and pressures of life. They can get discouraged and even wounded as they strive to succeed. In the struggle they recognize the frailty of their humanity and the limits of their conditions. People don’t have wings, but at times need someone with the wings of encouragement to lift them up again. The Lord tells us, in Isaiah 35.3, to strengthen the weak hands, to make firm the feeble knees, and to say to the anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not!”
The U.S Marine Corp has a motto of: “Leave no one behind.” In the course of a battle, it is inevitable for some to get wounded or battle fatigued. When this happens to a fellow soldier, the army just doesn’t move on. They rescue the wounded and carry them to safety. I heard a preacher once say that the Church is the only army that shoots its wounded. We may laugh at this, but too often it is the case. We criticize those who are downcast and tired, instead of lifting them up and carrying them on our prayers and faith. Let’s help make the path straight and easy so that those who are lame and feeble will not stumble or fall.
When Israel was fighting against the Amalekites, they only prevailed when Moses raised his hands. As the day went on, his hands grew weary. Aaron and Hur put a stone under Moses to sit on and stood by him to help him lift up his hands. The battle was won, because Aaron and Hur lifted up their leader in the time of his weakness. When we lift up someone, the Lord is there doing the same. The Psalmist says: “The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.” (Ps. 145.14) Seek not only to be lifted up, but lift up others as well. When doing so, you will discover new wings growing and encouragement returning.
We need to also lift up our brothers in their character. God has new levels for us to attain to. Why be like everyone else? Why be stuck in mediocrity when we can be excellent? At times our vision gets blurred and we need someone to lift up our eyes, above the natural, to new horizons and spiritual heights. There is power in an encouraging word. There is strength in believing the best of our brother and desiring his success. Let us lift up one another above the worldly pursuits of riches to their heavenly inheritance…above the natural into the spiritual.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Ps. 145.14; Is. 35.3; Heb. 12.12-17; Ecc. 4.10; Ex. 17.11-12; Romans 1.12