Elmhurst CRC

Sunday's Comin' #295 - Am I My Brother’s Keeper

January 27, 2023 Elmhurst CRC Season 1 Episode 295
Elmhurst CRC
Sunday's Comin' #295 - Am I My Brother’s Keeper
Show Notes Transcript

Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor

Gregg DeMey  0:07
 
Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose of the word of God. It's Friday, January 27 and Sunday is coming. This is Gregg DeMey. I serve as Lead Pastor at ECRC and this weekend we're going to have a brief pause from the Alpha experience as we mobilize for fifth Sunday serve opportunities in Jesus name. But, in the spirit of Alpha, we're still letting God's word provide some questions for us.

Gregg DeMey  0:31 

Here are the first questions of the Bible; Satan is actually the first question asker when he asks, "Did God really say that?" Gods first question is this: "Adam, where are you?" Which, actually implies the kindness and the grace of God.  Humanity's first question in Genesis, chapter 4, comes out of the mouth of Cain, who asked this: "Am I my brother's keeper?" Not only Caine's first question, but humanity's first question. The situation plays out this way - reading from Genesis 4, 9 and 10 - Then the LORD said to Cain, "where's your brother Abel?" Again, God's question inviting Cain to tell the truth, maybe even look for grace. "I don't know," Cain replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" And then the Lord said, "What have you done? Listen, your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground." God knows the truth already.

Gregg DeMey  1:32 

This question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" echoes down the corridors of history. It echoes within us every time we say, or think, "they deserved it!", or "They wronged me first!" We channel the spirit of Cain in these intstances. Jesus had such a radically different perspective. Jesus, who told the parable about how Jews and Samaritans are actually neighbors. Jesus who told his disciples, "love your neighbor as yourself." And Jesus who went so far as to even include enemies in the circle of neighborliness when he directed, "You've heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I tell you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven."

Gregg DeMey  2:17 

Perhaps you have an enemy right now. Or, at least someone who has the ability to bother you, or annoy you more than you'd like. Jesus invites you to promote that annoying person, or even longtime enemy, into the circle of neighborliness. Jesus beautifully demonstrated this move on the night that he was betrayed, when he went beyond just being a good neighbor and took up a basin and a towel. He washed the feet of those who had run away from him, those who would deny him, (and) even the feet of the one who would betray him. I'm so glad that we're part of a church that practices fifth Sunday serve. It's an opportunity to shed our natural inclination to be the children of Caine and distance ourselves from our neighbors, and instead to be the children of God.

Gregg DeMey  3:07  

Let's pray. Lord Jesus, we thank you for being more than a neighbor, more than a brother to us. For truly demonstrating your love all the way to the cross and into the resurrection. This coming Sunday, will you allow us to be filled up with your Spirit so that our friends and neighbors can sense your resurrection life coming through us? in Jesus name, Amen.