“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” - John 1: 12-13 (NIV).
Gen 4:9 says, “Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” We know Cain and Abel were the first two sons of Adam and Eve. Cain, the firstborn, was a farmer, and his brother Abel was a shepherd. Cain was bitter that God favored Abel's sacrifice more, and he consequently murdered him. So he replied, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Perhaps, one could say, that Cain had not been directly charged with looking after his brother Abel, so maybe his denials. However, the questioning implies that God expected it of him to look after his brother.
In the Christian faith once we receive Christ we all become members of God’s family (John 1: 12-13). This in a sense implies we are all keeper’s of each other, as is naturally expected among family members.
Now there are certain things expected of a keeper. For example, if one has not been seen for a long time, a keeper should be concerned. Sometimes it is so easy to assume that all is well in one’s life, when one needs help of some sort. Keepers look out for each other. They pray for one another. And where one falls into some trouble or goes through a difficult patch keepers do not just gossip off handedly. Thy look for solutions together.
God is calling us to be our brother and sisters keepers. This could start in our immediate biological family, where we certainly must look after each other. But more so, within God’s family, we are all each other’s keepers! As 1 Corinthians 12:26, reminds us, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together..”
Prayer for today: Lord Farther God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I am reminded that I am my brother and sister’s keeper, and so I pray to be ever on the lookout for my brothers and sisters, as members of God’s family, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
Related upcoming events
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28/04/2024 - 29/04/2024 All day"The Lord is my shepherd!" (Psalm 23:1)
Psalm 23 of David is perhaps one of the best prayers ever written, with nuggets and inspirations, of benefit to us since and
ever before. “The LORD is my shepherd, “David begins.” I lack nothing” (vv 1). What is it that you lack? In his life David had started out as a shepherd, and he knew very well, that a shepherd’s job is to watch over his sheep, feed and water them, and since the Lord is our shepherd, we his sheep shall lack nothing.Verse 2 -3 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” This exactly what a good shepherd does; he takes his sheep to the best fodder, ensuring that his sheep are well fed and rested. When the sheep are restless the good shepherd is troubled. Our God desires and is pleased when we are at peace.
Sometimes we may all find ourselves going through a storm. In Verse 4- 5, David says, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The Christian life is not without difficulties, but here David points us to God as our comforter and deliverer. We always have the staff of prayer to lean on.
In Verse 5, he writes, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In his tumultuous life, David had to battle with many enemies, ranging from King Saul, to foreigners and members of his own family. He knew a lot about betrayal. And, we too, may face enemies no less, from those that oppose us in our workplace for their ambition’s sake, to those who are not pleased because of the Gospel we preach. Yet here, just as David, we are assured that victory is on our side- this is why our cup overflows.
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (vv 6). The one who walks with God has a fresh smile ever, for God is with him. The blessings of God are with him wherever he goes.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham,
maker of heaven and earth, as David prayed in Psalm 23, may I not be troubled, for you are my shepherd ever watching over me and your goodness goes ahead of me!
