Galatians 6:5 - The iPack

"For each the own burden he will bear."

-This is not the same burden which was just mentioned three verses ago.  That one is the unbearable, high-pressure crushing load (baré) whose weight necessarily must be distributed among other believers.  Not only has God designed things such that we in the body of Christ need each other, but there are wondrous ways in which this body comes alongside one another and produces a supernatural synergy where the impact of our combined cooperation far exceeds what we could accomplish individually.  Nevertheless, each member, each part of the body must do his or her part (Ephesians 4.16).  Each person has a role to play, a mission to fulfill, a destiny to realize.

-Here Paul is referring to a smaller load (phortion), to the manageable marching pack carried by foot soldiers.  And in our case our Supreme Commander-in-Chief Himself is the One Who gives it to us, a relatively light burden, to be sure (Matthew 11.30).  And let's be sure to note that this is not optional.  "He WILL bear."  It’s not that he "might" bear it or "should" bear it, nor is it even a command TO bear it (i.e. BEAR it) - implicit in such an imperative is the option to disobey or disregard the command.  No such option here, however.  It is a future indicative, future fact.  In truth, there is no avoiding it.  As far as God is concerned, it is going to happen, you can take it to the bank.  He does indeed expect each and every one of His children to carry their assigned load, to pull their own weight to the full extent of their ability (cf 2Thessalonians 3.10).  Indeed, there are realistic expectations placed on the shoulders of every Christ-follower, and not one of these is beyond the capacity of any person to bear (1Corinthians 10.13), certainly not when the Lord is our very present Helper, our constant source of power and strength.  Jesus Christ, His Spirit alive and living in me, always on.  I can do ALL things thru Christ (Philippians 4.13), the One Who gives me HIS strength, strength for today, to carry whatever reasonable load He has for me this day.  It's the iPack, a unique, individually-customized load for each one of God's children.  I can, and I WILL do this - in Christ.  And so can you.  Both of us.

-And to be sure, it is a both-and.  We each do our part, AND we need each other.  We each run our own race, running to win to the best of our Christ-empowered ability, AND we spur and cheer and love and push one another on to glory.