Brothers and sisters.

I’m the last of 8 kids born to Ruby and Walter Walker, so I have quite a large family in today’s standards.  You’re probably wondering how large our house would to have been to hold all these people.  By the time I was born, my three oldest siblings had already left home, and by the time I was a teenager, I was the only kid at home.  My parents were Godly parents who raised us right; going to church, obeying rules at home and school and respecting authority.

Now this doesn’t mean that there wasn’t some sibling rivalry every now and then.  I can remember two of my sisters arguing often, even throwing each other’s clothes out the window, but they always made up.

I love all my siblings, but I also know that my fellow believers are my brothers and sisters too.

In Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus’ mother and his brothers were asking to speak to Him, but He told the man, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”  Now, He wasn’t saying this out of disrespect, but just to say that everyone who believes in Him, is His brothers and sisters.

I love my local church family and my brothers and sisters in Peru, as much as my own family.  There’s a special bond when you’re doing life side by side with fellow believers.  We’re all reaching for the same goals; we know our final destination.  I don’t know about you, but this is what life is all about.  Relationships are key to surviving this dark world.

Now there was conflict among siblings in the Bible. The first murder mentioned in the Bible was when Cain killed his brother Abel, out of jealousy. Conflict in any family is not a part of God’s plan for the family. He wants us to love our brothers and sisters, just as He loves everyone who believes in Him.

Support your brothers and sisters in Christ; love them as Jesus does and enjoy the blessings that come along with the family of God.

If you’re foreign to what I’m talking about, or if you haven’t found your church home yet, don’t put it off.  I invite you to visit my church, Church of the Savior; it’s on Brannon Crossing, at the south end of town.

Matthew 12:46-50 - “While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”  Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”