Dear Son, Dear Brother
A promise is a debt, so this is me paying the debt of love.
Dear son, dear brother, I thank God for you. Unlike our dear sisters, wife, wife to be, future wife and dear mothers you both have a different and higher kind of direct model to follow: Jesus Christ – who is both fully man and fully God.
A lot has been written about Him in the Gospel, but there is a portion of scripture that summarizes Him in a very personal way that I think would serve for our consideration this morning.
Philippians 2: 1-11
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
LOVE. HUMILITY. OBEDIENCE
That is the clarion call for every believer and for you as a son and a brother specifically. To live in love, to walk in humility, to practice obedience.
Jesus Christ the Son of God humbled Himself and took on flesh, gave Himself up for the world because of love and Obedience to the Father was His daily ambition and pursuit.
Dear son dear brother, I know most of us have come from broken homes with not so endearing fathers (praise God for those of us who have had godly fathers) that the thought of obedience to them is even laughable sadly so. Walking in love and humility is somehow within the grasp of our understanding but obedience, that’s way out there.
I would like to introduce you to a reality that is many a time not as obvious or practical to us as believers: the fact that God is our Father.
God is our Father, God is your Father
Pause and reflect. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the creator and sustainor of the universe, He who loved the world and gave up His only son for reconciliation: He is your Father. He is perfect in all of His ways, just and righteousness.
Actually the Bible contrasts Him with our earthly fathers.
So, as a son and a brother following the pattern of Jesus Christ you are called to live in love, walk in humility and practice obedience every step of the way: obedience to the Father, God.
I feel that obedience is the key to both living in love and walking in humility.
WHY? Because God’s commands when obeyed automatically result in a transformed life. There is no shortcut, not question about it.
But why is obedience so hard for sons and brothers?
Maybe it is because it involves a submission of one’s will, desires, dreams and ambitions to another? Or is ultimately an ego question? I don’t know, I am only but a woman J J
But you know the answer:
You know what keeps you from obeying God, your Father in everything
You know what keeps you from total and complete surrender to God, your Father
You know what keeps you from a relationship with God, your Father
You know what keeps you from being made into the image of His Son Jesus Christ
YOU KNOW
I believe that when sons and brothers sort out their relationship with God, then they have a sure anchor to sort out their issues and relationship with their earthly fathers.
Dear son dear brother, come to the Heavenly Father and He will walk with you back to your earthly father and onwards with you as you become a father.
Jesus Christ the perfect son has already made a way for you to be reconciled with your Father in heaven and has also provided an example to follow and the Holy Spirit enables you to do just that!
Image Credit:zilzarlife.com
