Daily Devotional For Saturday, June 8, 2024

It’s Saturday. Time to rest and possible get the yard mowed or something done around the house. I told you a few days ago I wanted us to consider questions that have been asked in the Bible. We have already looked at the first two: 

1. The serpent asked them, “Did God really say . . .?”
2. God asked Adam and Eve, “Where are you?”

The third question in the Bible comes from Cain to God after he had murdered his brother Able in Genesis 4:9, “Am I my brother’s keeper” (ESV). This is a loaded question. After the Lord God had expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden for their disobedience, Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy that God had found Abel’s sacrifice acceptable, but He had rejected Cain’s. After the murder, the Lord, knowing full well what had happened, asked Cain where Abel was. Cain’s response was "I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

It is obvious that we can be held responsible for the safety and well-being of every person, especially when they are to in our presence. But the Bible is clear that we are responsible when they are in our presence. This expectation is the Old Testament’s concept of justice and love.  Cain’s response shows a callous and cold response to having “brotherly love” for his own biological brother. His jealousy and selfishness lead him to literally kill his love, affection, and care for his own brother. In other words, he had already murdered his brother Abel in his heart before he murdered him physically . 

As Christians, we are to be “keepers” other Christians in two ways. First, we are not to commit acts of violence against another believer. And this is especially true with our tongue. We see this in the Book of James in James 4:2, “You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask” (ESV). James goes off the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. Just like adultery starts in the heart before it starts with the hands, so does murder. All sin starts in our hearts before it comes out in our actions. 

The Apostle Paul admonished the church at Corinth for “murdering” each other with their tongues. Look at 2 Corinthians 12:20, “For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder” (ESV). We should be building each other up. We should be encouraging one another rather than putting down, slandering,  gossiping or label one another. 

Second, we are to show brotherly love toward one another in a spirit of humility and a tender heart. Look at 1 Peter 3:8, “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (ESV). When we think of love, of course 1 Corinthians 13 comes to our mind where we are reminded that love is greater than faith and hope. 

I guess we must answer the question some may be asking, “Who is my brother or sister according to Scripture?” The Bible affirms it is anyone who has given their life to Christ. Look at John 1:12-13, “Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children. (13) They did not become God's children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father” (GNT). Jesus put it this way in Matthew 12:20, Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” (NLT). 

Are we our brother or sister’s keeper? God says, “Yes!” Look at these verses below:

• Hebrews 13:1, “Let brotherly love continue” (ESV).
• Romans 14:19, So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:9, “ Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another” (ESV)

Not every human being is your brother or sister. God loves everyone, but not everyone is part of the family of God. Not everyone is a Christian. This means that we are to pay particular attention to other believers by being intentionally a blessing to them. Below is an article that discusses how we are to be our “brother’s keep” even when it is challenging (Source: https://www.cupstocrowns.com/blog/brothers-keeper),

• • It means that you are conscious that your actions might cause your brother (or sister) to stumble so you adjust them accordingly. 
  • It means that when you notice your brother doing things that are not godly, you have enough of a relationship with him that you can have a hard conversation, pray with him, and help guide him back from the edge of sin. 
  • It means needs are made known, prayed for, and met.
  • It means emotional and spiritual support is readily given. 
  • It is iron sharpening iron.
  • It means you build relationships by making time for him, sharing meals, and getting to know each other’s families. 
  • It means doing life together even when it’s not convenient and thinking more about them than you do about yourself.  

Questions To Consider

1. Do you ever think or ask God the same question that Cain did, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Why or why not?
2. What do you think is the most challenging part of being your “brother’s keeper?”
3. Do you develop and maintain relationships to some believers outside of church? Meaning, you talk to them on the phone, invite each other over to each other’s homes, eat together, do fund activities with them? 
4. Read the list above of how we can be our brother’s keeper. Which of these do you consistently do and which do you not?

Scripture To Meditate On: Romans 12:10, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (ESV).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, being my brother’s keeper is not something I consciously think about each day. Please help me not to be just a church member or an attendee at church, but intimately involved in the lives of other believers. I love You Jesus and I love my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside!—Pastor Kelly