Seeing I don't have any brothers, this should make an interesting devotional! Always wanted a big brother as a little girl--and I suppose it WOULD be nice to have a really nice "big brother" watching over me, trying to keep me straight, loving and advising me...I might even share my chocolate with him!
Well, I have found some big brothers in the Bible! Sure, they can't look me straight in the eye and say, "Way to go, Peggie!" or "STOP it, Peggie!" They can't share my chocolate or my pasta--or my funny stories--and they can't take my kids for pizza or to the water park. But--oh, how they encourage me, how they exhort me, how they teach me! My brothers' names? Why, that's easy--Peter, Paul, James, John, to name a few--and like all brothers, could I tell stories on them!
Why, Peter puts his mouth in his foot - I mean his foot in his mouth; Paul was a real character before Christ; James and John? They weren't called Sons of Thunder for nothing--I can just hear them fighting over who would be first in the Kingdom, as my boys fight over who's first on the computer! But oh, when their Elder Brother, Christ, really got hold of each of them, when He captured their hearts and their all, He transformed them, He tamed them, He taught them and they became supremely His to command.
Now THAT'S the kind of brothers I want to listen to and learn from--my other brothers--not in the flesh, but in the spirit. That part of my family found in God's Word--someday I'll get to meet them in person and maybe get some big bear hugs like brothers are supposed to give! Until then, I want to follow them, as they followed Christ...how about you!!
...And in the meantime, let's BE the "brothers and sisters" in our Christian family on earth that God wants us to be--loving, lifting, encouraging one another in the Lord--and a bear hug or two won't hurt either! Try it--be a big brother or sister to someone today--and you'll have a wonderful, choco-rich, God-pleasing day!
Brother to Brother!--enjoy the lyrics and tune!
"Lord, we need role models in our world--Christian men who love and obey You, who look to You for guidance and truth. Thank You for those who surround us--and thank You even for those we come to know in Your Word--men of God who were real, flesh-and-blood people--like us, and they loved You with all their heart, soul and mind. Make us like them; may we learn from their lives and their words what it means to follow You all the way, In Jesus' Name, Amen."
--Copyright 2008 by Peggie Bohanon, Springfield, MO.
--Bible readings: Courtesy of "Daily Manna," International Bible Society
--IBSDirect International Bible Society's bulk Bibles/resources at discount prices.
...Love God's Word? Love Chocolate? Come On In!...
