“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” ( I Thessalonians 5:11).
Almost everyone is aware of that fiery Biblical incident, “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4:9). Cain had just murdered his younger brother Abel, something he thought was all out of view, only for the Lord to bring to his attention that he was actually meant to look out for him. He would suffer consequences for that. “Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand” ( vv 11).
If there was a relation which clearly showed what the Lord here had in mind there is that of Jonathan and David. As the son of King Saul, Jonathan was in direct line for succession and could have seen David as a rival. Instead he made a pact to watch his back. “After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself'’ ( I Samuel 18:1-3).
This was not just for passing. At one point Jonathan would put his life in danger for his brother. When Saul made his intentions very clear, he objected, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” Jonathan asked his father. But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him” ( I Samuel 20: 32-33).
But why does all this count to us! God has placed brotherly relations around us for a purpose. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” ( Proverbs 27:17). Further, we are reminded, “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over” ( Mathew 18:15). This means that where we notice a matter of concern if someone is truly your brother in Christ go and share that concern with him confidentially in person, other than just letting it pass or worse still, carelessly discussing it elsewhere, only to cause greater harm and hurt in the end!
Unlike Cain, lets resolve to be “our brother’s keeper!”
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, you have given us brothers and sisters in Christ, that we may lift up one another and watch out for each other’s back to your glory, and may you help us to be always conscious of this, for your kingdom’s glory, this we pray in your holy Almighty name.
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02/05/2024 - 03/05/2024 All day“That is why for Christ’s sake I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10)
We all crave to be blessed in life. But was there a believer who was so blessed beyond any circumstances without experiencing some sort of discomfort, in one way or another! A person may apparently be blessed in every single way yet have one troubling matter that constantly drives him down to his knees.
The one mightily blessed with riches may have a family situation that leaves him ever on edge. Someone who seems to be at the height of his profession may be living with an ailment that keeps him ever on tentacles. The one blessed with abundant health might from time to time be dealing with financial woes.
Why do such troubling situations plague even believers? One explanation could be found in the Apostle Paul’s life. Called into ministry and endowed with many gifts, including amazing revelations from above, yet he had a matter that constantly drove him on his knees. “Therefore in order to keep me from being conceited, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me” (2 Cor 12: 7).
Paul would often cry out to God to free him of this particularly troubling matter. But the Lord came back with, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in your weakness” (2 Cor 12: 9).
The comfort of this lesson is that God is completely aware of whatever might be ever troubling us. Moreover, it could be purposely there, that we constantly place our faith in Him, other than relying on our strength and resources, especially as He blesses us in other uplifting ways.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray that whatever matter is constantly troubling me, I know it is for a purpose and you are in total control, to bless me even more, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
