Who Is My Brother?

The question I raise today is who is my brother? For the most part we may think more of our family. For instance I am the youngest of 5 and of my siblings I have 3 brothers. They would be considered my brothers by blood, but does that make them my true brothers? Is blood thicker than water? Interestingly, if you look at that saying “blood is thicker than water” and apply “spirit” to the word water than it takes on a whole different meaning, but a more profound one. I have and continue to live an interesting life and during that time, especially during my early twenties, the story of Cain and Abel is more real to me, not in the physical sense but the spiritual. Growing up with a belief and understanding that family is to always be there for you and that you would be there for them, then having your family turn on you because of the change in your beliefs does feel like the story of Cain and Abel. I had to rethink what a brother is to me and see if there are any in my life that I could honestly call a brother.

Jesus spoke of where our foes would come from, in some cases at least. Matthew 10:36 “And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.” It is sad but when you begin to change your life to be in accordance with God’s way of life you will find that those closest to you have the biggest problem with that change. Jesus never promised that following his example, which was the way his Father wanted him to live, that we would be living a life of sunshine and calm seas. There is one thing that we can count on is whatever we lose when it comes to family or friends because our relationship with God is that we will gain such ones back but in the spirit and better than what we had. Don’t get me wrong it will still hurt to have those you know and grew up with to turn their backs on you or even turn on you, but we need to know that there are those out there or that we may even come across that will take the place of them and that they will be even closer for they too will be as we are.

Did Jesus tell us how and who would be our brothers? And yes this would include sisters, mothers and fathers as well. In Matthew 12:50 Jesus gives us an idea of who they truly are “Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Our true brothers are the same ones that do the will of our Father in heaven. Their way of life is modeled after that of God’s own son Jesus. Our true brothers are not the ones that we are born with but the ones we are reborn with.

If you go back to the story of Cain and Abel and read the spot where Cain tells the LORD am I my brother’s keeper? (Genesis 4:9 “And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?”) And the LORD doesn’t correct him on this matter; I believe it is because Cain had spoken the truth. Abel was not his brother for they lived different lives after the LORD. One lived it for the LORD the other didn’t not. Cain might have been Abel’s brother by blood but where it counted Cain was not Abel’s brother in the spirit. Another account in the scriptures you could look at to compare two people that were not brothers by blood but were still true brothers is the story of David and Jonathan.

Just remember that if you think that you have no siblings, either by just being the only child or losing them when you turned your life over to god, that there are many out there that would be considered your siblings and if you don’t get to see them all now you can count on seeing them when all is said and done and God’s kingdom is established here on earth. That will be the day that those that read this from off the internet that are my brothers and sisters we will than finally get to meet face to face and share stories of our lives and rejoice in the LORD and all that He has done for us. Until than continue to walk in the LORD and to strengthen and build up your foundation and treasure in heaven.