Beyond: Living UnshakableSample

Now that we have explored “primary” relationships, those with our parents or spouse, and loving them as we love ourselves, we will now explore “secondary” relationships. If we are not married and still live with our parents and family, our siblings stand out as our secondary area of relationship. If we are married and have children, relationship with our children ought to be viewed as next in divine order of priority to love others as we love ourselves.

John exhorts us to love our brother, according to the King James Version. Scripture points to both a natural and spiritual sibling relationship. We are to love, not hate or live in jealousy of our brethren. In fact, if we were to visit the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis four, we read of the heartache that can be birthed from a place of jealousy and competition with our siblings. The Lord desires we radiate His love to our siblings as He leads. God also desires we radiate the love of Jesus to our children.

We are to wholeheartedly keep, and teach to our children, the instruction of loving God and serving Him with all our soul. However, we are cautioned to not give lip-service only. We are to genuinely live out the greatest commandment through our interactions with our children. From this direction, we can have faith and trust our children will not part and their paths will be straight as they walk in their own love exchange with King Jesus.

In addition to natural parents, siblings and children, we have another family. Ultimately, the family of God is our true family. According to Scripture, anyone who does the will of our Father, the member seeking to do God’s will and walk in His ways, is our family. Today, sit with the Lord and allow Him to search your heart for a moment. Be encouraged to ask:

Lord, do I honor and love my siblings in a way that honors You?

Lord, do I exemplify a life given to loving You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength?

Lord, has my relationship with my siblings or children become an idol in my life? If so, what steps are You setting before to walk in recourse?

Father, how might You be calling me to better love my siblings? Children? Both? 

Holy Spirit, are there places of pain in my life, sourced from either my siblings or children, where the balm of forgiveness needs to be applied in order to properly align with Your divine order and live unshakable?

Jesus, am I seeking to live in community with the family of God You have brought into my life? If not, why?

With God’s grace and Holy Spirit leading, resolve to grow beyond comfort zones and live unshakable by determining to be more intentional about loving well your siblings or children, or both.

Prayer: Father, cause me to love my siblings in a way that honors and radiates You. Lord help me to see who my true brothers and sisters are, those who do the will of the Father here on earth. Father, cause me to love my children well. Holy Spirit, empower and enable me to be a living testament of loving You with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. Jesus, where I may have places of pain, related to siblings and/or children, I ask You would move me to forgive and seek reconciliation where needed. Lord, should either my siblings or children assume the center-affections of my heart, rather than You, I ask Your Spirit to begin leading me to properly prioritize and realign with Your divine order. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.