On January 10, 2008, the Associated Press reported that Sir Edmond Hillary, the New Zealander who achieved worldwide acclaim by successfully climbing Mount Everest in 1953, died at 88. I have high respect not only for Sir Edmond, but for all brave men and women who climb rugged mountain peaks.
These fearless climbers have to take serious precautions as they scale sheer cliffs. One safety feature they use is a line that’s always connected to a person below who is called the “belayer.” If the climber loses his balance or falls, the belayer holds him securely until he can regain his footing and continue his ascent or descent. Thus, “to belay” is to anchor, to hold securely, to keep safe.
As members of the body of Christ, we are “belayers” in the sense that we are committed to giving one another help and support in our daily Christian walk. We support one another through prayer, provide fellow members with any needed assistance, encourage one another, and help in times of spiritual danger. Just as the belayer “holds the ropes” for his fellow climber, we should, spiritually speaking, “hold the ropes” for each other in case we stumble or fall (Gal. 6:1-2).
The apostle Paul could be classified as a “belayer” on behalf of several churches, including the Thessalonian church. The brethren there were undergoing severe persecution and were troubled (2 Thessalonians 1:3-7). He reminded them that they were called by the gospel and loved by God (2 Thessalonians 2:13-16), encouraging them to continue trusting the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17).
Since Christians are "belayers" — let us ask ourselves, “Whose rope is God encouraging us to hold today?”
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
These fearless climbers have to take serious precautions as they scale sheer cliffs. One safety feature they use is a line that’s always connected to a person below who is called the “belayer.” If the climber loses his balance or falls, the belayer holds him securely until he can regain his footing and continue his ascent or descent. Thus, “to belay” is to anchor, to hold securely, to keep safe.
As members of the body of Christ, we are “belayers” in the sense that we are committed to giving one another help and support in our daily Christian walk. We support one another through prayer, provide fellow members with any needed assistance, encourage one another, and help in times of spiritual danger. Just as the belayer “holds the ropes” for his fellow climber, we should, spiritually speaking, “hold the ropes” for each other in case we stumble or fall (Gal. 6:1-2).
The apostle Paul could be classified as a “belayer” on behalf of several churches, including the Thessalonian church. The brethren there were undergoing severe persecution and were troubled (2 Thessalonians 1:3-7). He reminded them that they were called by the gospel and loved by God (2 Thessalonians 2:13-16), encouraging them to continue trusting the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17).
Since Christians are "belayers" — let us ask ourselves, “Whose rope is God encouraging us to hold today?”
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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