JANUARY 12, 2010

LOVING LIKE

A BROTHER

Scripture Reading

1 Thessalonians 4:9--"But as touching brotherly love

ye need not that I write unto you:

for ye yourselves are taught of God

to love one another."

Hebrews 13:1--"Let brotherly love

continue."

My brothers and I always had a dream. For years, we talked about maybe getting together for a big game hunt out west. Finally, our opportunity came, and we met for a week in Wyoming to hunt antelope. We each took a nice antelope buck, we hiked in a canyon, we rode horses, we rounded up cattle on a ranch, and we stayed in a log cabin in the mountains. We also ate like kings, laughed like clowns, and spent a lot of time sharing about our families and ministries. It was hard to say goodbye. Even as my brothers pulled out of the ranch and headed back to Arkansas, I knew we would never have an experience like the one we had just shared.

Not long after Brad and Scott left, I had a talk with my own boys. I told them about the unique blessing of sharing my life with my brothers and offered them the following challenge: Live your lives together as brothers so 15 or 20 years from now, you will be able to enjoy an experience together like my brothers and I did.

It's so sad when brothers and sisters grow up with resentment and bitterness toward each other. I know that children in the same family have their occasional squabbles. However, if they are willing to resolve conflicts and to show genuine love, they will develop a relationship that will be a great blessing. Brothers and sisters can be not only part of the same family but also best friends for life. That's what "let brotherly love continue" means.

DO THIS NOW: Let your brothers and sisters know you're thankful for them. Your note or phone call would be special.

--Tom Palmer--

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN " 1 " YEAR: Genesis cc.37-39