Articles
Siblings in Christ
The concepts of brotherly love apply to us all. Whether it is sisters, brothers, spiritual sisters and brothers, or close friends who feel like family, in some way shape or form we all have at least one person we can relate to in such an endearing way. As we reflect on this person (or people), let’s try to think about the last time we showed them love. If it has been awhile, what can we do this week to show them love that is from God?
As school is starting up again, many of us will once again be spending longer times apart from our siblings. As we return home to see them from school or as they return home from college on break, sometimes we may feel that our family and loved ones are showing them more attention than us. This can’t be further from the truth. At the end of the prodigal son parable the father says these words, “’But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” When a parent sends their child out into the world there can be a feeling loss, a gap that can’t be filled because someone whose company they cherished for so long is no longer presently with them, even if they aren’t physically or spiritually dead. Just as it is a parent’s job to guide their child down a path of Godly love without being overbearing to a point of exasperation (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4), it is our job as siblings to live obediently to God by severing all ties to ungodliness and worldly passions (see Titus 2:11-15).
As adults with physical or spiritual siblings who are living their own lives, two verses come to mind: Romans 5:1-11 and Proverbs 10:12. With these verses in mind, we must remember that through God’s own love He gave up His son in order to redeem us all from a life of sin. Just as God redeemed us and reconciled with us, we too can reconcile and give new life to our relationships with others. Proverbs 10 also reminds us that we as individuals and as a church must be vigilant to not stir up such trouble with those dear to us. Only by the love God has placed in our hearts is this feat of forgiveness possible: and it is one of the best examples that we adults can provide to the youth who are in our presence.
