Your Brother and Sister

The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:20 (“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”) and other scriptures in the Bible, that discuss brethren and what it means. We all know that wherever it says brother he also means sister.

Everyone you will encounter is your brother or your sister. Total strangers like the waitress at the restaurant, the mom shopping on the same aisle at Publix, the man pumping gas at the next pump over, all your brother or sister. Or your brother and sister could be someone that you work with or they go to the same church. This is what Jesus wants us to grasp. Regardless of race, gender, nationality, sexuality - we are called to love everyone.

I know so many individuals who have actual siblings, brothers and sisters that they grew up with, some have issues with others. Some people are very close with their siblings and always involved with their siblings on a weekly/monthly basis. Others always had a rivalry, they barely speak to or visit with their siblings for whatever reason.

With so many people struggling to love their family unconditionally, their actual blood brothers and sisters, no wonder it’s so hard for people to love total strangers or acquaintances as if they were their brother or sister they struggle to even love their families - and in some unfortunate cases - even themselves. Self-love is so important, I can’t stress that enough.

If you ever struggled to love someone whether they’ve harmed you in the past, or they told lies about you, stole from you, mistreated you in any way - this will be your giant. Find a way to love them with Pure Love, forgiving them for their carnal ways. Some of you that are jealous or hateful you’re going to have to fast and pray and ask the Lord how to love these individuals. It’s not going to be easy.

I tell people that struggle with loving others to instead of looking at them as your brother and sister (because I’m telling you people are struggling with this) I tell them to look at that individual as if they were your own child. See them the way Jesus sees them (as his child). Ask yourself if my child did what they did, would you have trouble forgiving them? Most of the people I say this to say no. I tell them to pray and fast and try to see that individual as your child.

The Bible stresses love ever so much. Love conquers all things. If we can get through the hurdle of all of the hurt and pain then we will then be able to come out from the hatred and jealousy and love unconditionally.