My friend John, a pastor, has a brother who embraces the homosexual lifestyle. As a follower of Jesus, John prayed, how should I relate to my brother?
God’s answer, tucked in the words of John’s prayer, came almost immediately. He needs you to be his brother. Of course, so obvious, love him as a brother.
Live out who God created you to be, his brother, and trust God to work out the particulars.
Real life is an unfolding journey without easy answers.
I don’t have a brother; I have three married sisters. We live in four different states. Mostly our journeys don’t overlap. But we are sisters and there are some common paths.
I’ve often prayed John’s prayer, how do I relate to my sisters. And the answer I hear is the same, love them as sisters. Each of my sisters is a unique creation. My love for each one needs to look unique.
I trust Jesus for the how.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I love you.
Abide in my love.”
John 15:9
- Jesus loves with the love he has received from the Father. So I must be soaking myself in God’s love for me. If I’m not receiving, I have nothing to give.
“Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon
casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
And Jesus said to them,
“Follow me …”
Mark 1:16 and 17
2. Jesus initiates. So I call, I initiate. When I wonder about, when I have joys or heart aches to share, when I have questions, or just because. Usually the phone calls are not short.
“When Jesus saw her weeping,
and the Jews who had come with her also weeping,
he was deeply moved …”
John 11:33
3. Jesus pays attention. He identifies. So I’m curious. I ask about their realities, their kids, their grand-kids .And I’ve experienced their care especially with our precious Ezra. We too identify with each other.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you …”
John 15:16
4. Jesus includes. And so I include with invitations to special events. I include them in our calendar. And they include me.
We love like sisters, long-distance sisters. Sisters can’t always be there. Sisters don’t always have solutions. But we journey with each other as our stories unfold. I’m thankful for my sisters.
“A friend is always loyal,
and a brother (sister) is born to help in time of need.”
Proverbs 17:17, NLT
Thanks, Sue.
Thought this was especially good and something for all of us to think about. God calls us to love not judge. He will be the judge because he knows the motives of our hearts and that is something we really need to think about.
Darnly, thank you for your encouragement. Words from you mean a lot to me.
Will you be returning to ND for the wedding in July????
love, sue
The wedding is in South Dakota and no I won’t be going. Thanks for asking.
Darnly
Thinking of you.
Now that Grace will be living in Kansas … in the same town as our son … I hope to see her a bit more.