You May Have Friends, But Do You Have Brothers?
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart
Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue
Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
To have a great brother in Christ is an immense privilege and blessing. For even with companions that are not united under the family of God, Ecclesiastes 4 says that “two are better than one… 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.” How much more, then, is it a blessing to have a bond stronger than blood with another whose heart and aim is the same? How much greater is the joy, the encouragement, and the sanctification when fellow children of God band together in unity?
You may have friends, but do you have brothers? The beauty of brotherhood is beauty that is sadly appreciated and rejoiced over far too rarely. Surely, in our selfishness and self-reliance, we’ve missed out on so much good and so much joy. What a tragedy that is! I highly suspect that Satan, in our lives, actively works against us in the very bonds that are meant to strengthen us. In this, we struggle against a formidable opponent who is much stronger than any of us. Yet, despite what keeps brothers apart, we have hope in the God who brings us together. May that hope bring us to pray.
I wrote this following poem to the great joy and lifting of my spirit that recent fellowship with a brother has brought to me. It was beyond words, what God did in both of us, and in bringing us together. Through that time, I was given a newfound appreciation for brotherhood, and a conviction to greater acts of love. In those moments of awe in what God has blessed me with, I was reinvigorated to pray, and re-motivated to encourage. Out of those great things working in my heart, came the birth of this poem. Hopefully, as you read, you’ll be able to relate, being reminded of those very brothers in your own life.
Beware my prayers, oh ye demons
For the love of my beloved brother compels me
Earnestly, I join the fray
Fighting, until my strength gives way
Beware my prayers, oh ye devil
As I drop to my knees and wrestle
To my Almighty Father, I run
Through the love of Christ the Son
Beware my prayers, oh evil spirits
For the love of my beloved brother compels me
I see his desires and life’s aim
And rejoice, for mine is the same
Beware my prayers, oh my cold heart
From my commitment to him, I will not depart
Oh, His heart for the kingdom so great
In the battle, a trustworthy mate
Beware my prayers, oh discouraged soul
For the love of my beloved brother compels me
Spiritual and unseen, the battle fought
Sweet fellowship this world knows not
Beware my prayers, oh ye demons
As we stand together through every season
In all the trials we jointly face
Burdens shared, we run the race
Beware my prayers, oh trials and temptations
For the love of my beloved brother compels me
How precious to me this faithful kin
A shield from God, against deadly sin
Beware my prayers, oh wicked world
Despite the suffering you have hurled
Triumph over us, you will not
For victors we are in the battle fought
Beware my prayers, oh great adversary
The weight of guilt we no longer carry
Be in fear and know thy defeat
Assured by God, in heaven we’ll meet
Oh my brother, may you be blessed
For God is good, as we confessed
Till the darkness fades, and we see the dawn
Then in grace when tears are gone
We’ll meet again, clothed in light
In fullness of joy, reunite
