I love this scripture in Proverbs that says, 'a nearby neighbor can help you more than relatives who are far away.' (Proverbs 27:10 GNT) It's so true. I think about my own relationships. I'm closer to all of you than many of my own relatives. Sometimes it is easier to develop close friendships with those outside your immediate family circle. But there's another kind of 'blood relative' mentioned in the Bible: brothers and sisters joined together through the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7). It's the kind of relationship that doesn't allow you to go off and do your own thing. It requires us to be 'peace-makers who go on quietly sowing for a harvest of righteousness - in other people and in themselves.' (James 3:18 PHPS) It calls for a long-term commitment not readily understood by the 'me generation' where, when the going gets tough, it's acceptable to bail out of a relationship and move on. This goes along with yesterdays thought on "speaking healing into others lives." You can't do it unless you are in right relationship with others. Tom Sabens points out that the world doesn't understand the Christian concept of brotherhood and sisterhood: 'It says find friends among like-minded, like-income people who vote like you and have the same golf handicap. These friendships work until the bottom falls out of your life, you face a pressing problem, or a tragic loss, or a serious illness, and suddenly you realize that no one cares much about you. Why? Because you've made no investment in anybody's life, and now when you need to make a withdrawal there's no money in the friendship bank.' Sacrificial love is the foundation of true friendship. Paul writes, 'I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves...But you know how Timothy has proved himself.' (Philippians 2:20-22 NLT) Healing words and love for each other makes the body strong! You are loved...
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