GENESIS 4:8-9 – Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
THEME OF THE DAY: YES, WE ARE, CAIN. When the Lord asks a question, it should make us a little uncomfortable if the answer doesn’t please Him. The reason is obvious. There is no hiding. He already knows the answer. It is one thing to be evasive when a fellow human being asks questions and we skirt the answers out of our fear of not wanting to be embarrassed or transparent. We can hide and not be exposed since the humans are not omniscient. It is a whole different story with the Lord! Yes, Cain, foolish Cain, tried to avoid the question from the Lord, but added his own question in response. It is a question that applies to us, and may be extended to read like this, “Are we are brothers’ and sisters’ in the Lord keepers?” The resounding answer is “Yes, we are.”
One of the glaring deficiencies in the church of the Lord Jesus today is the lack of deep, genuine, heart-sharing relationships among other Christians that promote mutual encouragement and accountability. This lack of investment in one another hinders spiritual growth because it fosters private and individual Christianity which is foreign to Biblical Christianity. Take some time and read the relationship the Apostle Paul had with the Thessalonian believers. It is revealed in chapter two of his first letter to them. Within it, we will see the type of loving relationship of mutual encouragement, accountability, and instruction Christians are to have with one another. Here is a sample – For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:5-7).
The strength in our churches, to include our corporate witness in the community, is based on our togetherness. And not just togetherness for an hour or so on the Lord’s Day. It is a togetherness that prompts spiritual growth through instruction, even correction. Without such investments in one another, we really cannot say we love one another. The Apostle John would tell us love is action-based – Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18). King Solomon would also weigh-in with the importance of close fellowship; a fellowship that does mean we are the spiritual keepers of our brothers and sisters – Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
Yes, Cain, we are the keepers of our brothers and sisters. Don’t try to avoid the responsibility and privilege. Embrace them and live out what the Lord would have us – relationships of mutual care and support in the Christian life as we travel together on the road to our eternal home.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to spiritually care for others as a privilege and responsibility.”
QUOTE: “Every Christian is to shepherd other Christians. We are to pastor one another like Jesus.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim