One time people came to Jesus and told him his family was looking for him. He replied that his true family were those who did the will of his Father. It sometimes seems that there is a lot of confusion among us as to who we are most closely related to. All of us who believe have been born into a new family. We all have the same father. Even so, it is easy to forget that and to relate to our physical relationships as somehow more real, more important than our spiritual relationships.
Who really is my brother, and what makes him my brother?
The Bible tells many stories of physical brothers who did not get along. From the very beginning with Cain and Abel we find conflict. In none of the stories, however, does the disagreement cause the two to cease to be brothers. They may need reconciliation, but they will always be brothers.
How much more so, it seems to me, should it be with those who are now brothers, not because of their first birth but because of their new birth. If you fail to recognize the place of Israel in God's plan (as I understand it), or if you do not agree with what I think are biblical standards of justice, does that make you cease to be my brother?
"Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?" (James 4:11-12) (ESV)
"If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." (1 John 4:20-21)
- 1 MARCH -