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Blood Brothers Sisters
By Pat Ehler

How many times have we heard, “You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your relatives”? Our relationships with family
members can be good or bad. Sometimes they change over time to grow closer or farther apart. But no matter how we feel
about our relatives, we remain tied together by blood.

Pray together: Heavenly Father, help us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Help us to be instruments of Your peace and sowers of Your love. In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Jacob and Esau were brothers who didn’t always get along. Read Gen. 27:41-45. Comment on their relationship.

Jacob and Esau’s blood ties remained even while they were separated. Read Gen. 33:1-2. What did Jacob think would happen when he returned from years in exile?

Sometimes we forget that we are all sisters in Christ. As sinners, we hurt each other’s feelings. We make thoughtless remarks. We speak before we think. We think of ourselves before others, with predictable results. Our sins drive a wedge between us and others.

What should we do when others sin against us?

Luke 17:3

I John 4:20-21

“It takes two to quarrel.” True, and how often we automatically return an angry word with a sharp answer! Before we know it, a cranky moment turns into an exchange of bitter words.

Read Proverbs 15:1. How does God want us to speak to others?

Church members may sometimes leave their congregation for another church home when they are hurt. They may stop going to church altogether. What does Jesus tell us to do when we are angry with our sisters? Or when someone is angry with us?

Matthew 5:23-24

Colossians 3:13

Above all, we remember that ties of Christ’s blood are stronger than those of earthly families! Even when we are angry with our earthly family members, our spiritual blood ties remain intact. The tie that binds all Christians together is much stronger than our anger: It is the blood of Christ, shed freely in love for us.

1 John 4:12, 19

1 John 3:14

1 John 2:9-10

Think of someone in your life whom you may have hurt. What could you do to mend things? Without mentioning the individuals involved or details, discuss the situation with the group. Consider with them how you may be reconciled with God and your friend.

Read in unison: How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 John 3:1).

Closing: Sing “Blest Be the Tie that Binds” (LSB 649, LW 295, TLH 464)

Pat Ehler lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is a wife and mother of two children. She has served as her LWML society president and Cedar Rapids Zone Treasurer. She is a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hiawatha, Iowa, and works at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids as Business Director.