Support Your Brothers and Sisters
in christ, in love…
22 'strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.' acts 14:22
24 let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 and let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. hebrews 10:24-25
2 share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. galatians 6:2
11 so encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 thessalonians 5:11
16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. james 5:16
10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 1 john 2:10
A friendship unlike any other, built out of respect and love, will always have each others backs.
A group of close friends that will do anything for each other no matter what time of day or night it is and no matter how long it is since they've seen each other.
A friend will loan you money for your #4 with fries and a coke, where your brother will pay for it without offering, or expecting anything in return.
friends chill together, brothers grow together
i believe each of us, at one point in our lives, has had someone or several people who stepped up, stepped in, even stepped in front of, for them. having deep, meaningful relationships are so important for everyone to grow. without them we may not have developed proper social skills to interact with others (hanging out and meeting people), understood cooperation to work as a team (sports and hobbies), learn to empathize and care for one another when they are hurting physically, mentally, & emotionally (girl breaks your heart, got into a street fight, feeling depressed).
there were real struggles in my youth and was fortunate to have great friends growing up. from helping me through being the fat, awkward kid, who was very unathletic, who got picked last; being teased for having a ‘ricebowl’ haircut; to not having the nicest clothes, toys, etc. because we couldn’t afford it.
even as i got into adulthood, in the midst of my addiction, a few were there to support me. one even got me back into the water, bodyboarding and catching waves; something i had always loved to do but walked away from it because i was so caught up in my disease. they didn’t always understand what was going on because they never experienced the same mental and physical damage from the drugs and alcohol that took a toll on my life. what they did do was be there despite the drama going on with me.
even as we mature, change jobs, locations, etc., we begin to develop other friendships, some of which stay with you and become part of your circle of trust. they don’t supersede those closest to you, just an added bonus to your group. there are times that those later in life become closer than those that came before. even today, though some have moved or have life commitments - marriage, kids, parents, i can still call on them and know they would be available if needed. just count yourself fortunate to be able to have any of these around as some people don’t or are unable to sustain any level of relationships.
if you aren’t surrounded by people you trust, got your back, and love you, you may become reclusive, self-absorbed and, in my experience, that is generally a recipe for disaster. sometimes you just don’t see it because you are the problem and may not believe so.
there’s much more that i want to write about on this topic because i feel it is important to be connected to the body of Christ. to be around people who are believers and followers of Jesus, those that would hold you accountable to what is right and true - according to The Bible and not of the world. those that will lift you up, we can confess stuff to, and love you despite your faults & failures.
i’m not saying that those who do not have Jesus in their lives are bad people; i know many people who aren’t ‘saved’ and are fine, upstanding human beings. we do differ on morals and ethics, which is a very huge concern for me; how i live my life based on what values i believe are important and not the standards of what the world/society wants me to follow.
truly am grateful for those that are currently in my life and even those that are no longer. each of you have played a role in helping me be the man i am now and want to continue exploring how i can be a better brother. these verses are a reminder for us men to be a part of each other’s lives - ensuring that we are living right and helping us become the best version of who God called us to be.
Father God, thank you for your Son Jesus. teach us to love as He demonstrated while on earth. lifting each other up and always being available. sometimes it is hard to do so; simply asking for your guidance when someone does ask for help. teach me how to be encouraging, motivating, and supportive to those you place in my life. may doing so allow them and i to have a more deeper and intimate relationship with you. in Jesus’ glorious and exalted name i pray, amen!