Saturday, January 19, 2019
Genesis 4:9 "Am I my brother's keeper?"
KEY QUESTIONS FOR A NEW YEAR (2)
"Am I my brother's keeper?" This was Cain's question in response to God's question of where Abel was. Beyond the fact that Cain had just murdered his brother, Cain was expressing the feeling we all have when we do not want to care about other people.
The poet says, "No man is an island." God has not made us to live independently from our fellow human beings. He's put us into a world full of people, a world that desperately needs to learn of Jesus their Savior. He's placed us in communities where we live and work side by side others, and where God gives us opportunities to let our light shine. He's put us into a congregation where we share God's Word together and comfort and encourage one another with that Word. He's placed us into families where He provides a refuge of love, care, and mutual support; and where, in a Christian home, we seek to build one another up in God's love and truth while reflecting Christ's forgiving love and patience with one another.
No man is an island, and you are your brother's keeper! But how often don't we think in terms of "it's his problem, not mine." Or "I don't really want to get involved in that mess." Or "God can't really expect me to show love to him after what he did to me"? So often our lives are all about ME with barely a thought for those God has put into our lives.
Jesus set the example. With a heart of perfect love, He reached out to folks and got involved with their hurts and heartaches. Even those wallowing in the gutter of life-- prostitutes, adulterers, and thieves-- were objects of His care and concern. He died for them, as He died for us all. God is love. Jesus demonstrated that love to the ultimate degree when He went to the cross to be punished for all human sin, including all the times where we've put our own selfish wants before the needs of others.
We are His blood-bought, sanctified people. So as we travel through another year, let's do so with His love in our hearts, ready and willing to help and be a friend to anyone and everyone, in both their bodily and spiritual needs.
