Destress the Damsel

Has anyone seen my chameleon this morning?
He has to be hiding somewhere.
He asked me if we could play hide-and-go-seek,
and then disappeared into thin air.

I’ve looked high and low in the yard and the house
and it seems like he’s nowhere around.
He’s probably hiding right out in the open
but doesn’t yet want to be found.

I’m guessing he looks like a leaf on a bush
or the back of a sofa or chair.
He could be disguised as a book or a bagel.
Regardless, I don’t think it’s fair.

If you come across my chameleon, please tell him
I give up. He beat me today.
He’s clearly the champion at hiding so, next time,
it’s my turn to pick what we play.

– “Has Anyone Seen My Chameleon?” by Kenn Nesbitt

Hide-and-Go-Seek Champion. Master of Disguise. Mimic of Legendary Proportions. The Chameleon.

Chameleons are extraordinary creatures, most well known by their ability to change colors and blend in with their surroundings. The word chameleon is derived from two Greek words: “khamai”, which means “on the earth”, and “leon”, which means “lion”. When we say the word, chameleon, we are calling this lizard a “lion on the earth”. Isn’t it odd that such a small creature would bear such a grand title? An oft-suggested explanation for this is that the crest on the chameleon’s head is reminiscent of a lion’s mane. Might I suggest another, more symbolic, explanation for the Greek moniker? Charles Darwin once said:

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.

Now, I am not a fan of Darwin, nor do I ascribe to his theories on evolution. However, I agree with him on this point: adaptability often outweighs strength and intelligence (or makes up for the lack thereof). A chameleon may not have the strength or cunning nature of the lion, yet its adaptability rivals that king of beasts.

“What does all this chameleon stuff have to do with me?” you may be asking. Here’s the correlation: there are those of us who at times bemoan our lack of ingenuity. We are the people who imitate those we look up to, who mimic genius, who pick up bits and pieces from others to invent our identity. We are the ones who will never hear the words, “he/she is a natural”, spoken in reference to us. Because frankly, we aren’t naturals…we are chameleons. We replicate. Others paint the landscape, we copy the painting. Others write the music, we sing the tune. Others publish the books, we quote the words. Others are the inventors, we are the imitators. Does this resonate with you?

If you are a “chameleon”, you likely think that you lack unique attributes. You may feel that God forgot to sprinkle that extra “special something” in your DNA that others seem to possess. You probably have days when you look down on yourself, because you have to work so hard to do what comes naturally to the ones who just plain “have it”.

I am here today to shift your perspective. I am going to give you three reasons why being a chameleon isn’t such a bad thing as you’re making it out to be. By the time you finish this article, perhaps you will look at yourself through a new set of eyes. Let’s get rolling.

Ashamed of being a chameleon? Don’t let this escape your notice. #1: The Character of a Chameleon is one of…

• Their eyes move independently and can rotate 360 degrees.
• Their eyes can also see two directions at once.
• They have very sharp vision with excellent depth perception which allows them to easily target prey (insects) even up to 20 feet away.

– Chameleon Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com – KidsKonnect, November 7, 2018

If you are a “chameleon”, you have been given excellent observation skills. You are able to see things that others cannot. Your brain is able to process an inordinate amount of information through your heightened visual perception.

Observation is a valuable tool in many areas of life:

• Observation allows a wife to ascertain what her husband wants and needs from her…she takes careful note of all his desires and adds them to her mental “to-do” list.
• Observation allows a mother to identify her child’s nature…she learns how she might reach him in the way best suited to his individual personality traits.
• Observation allows an employee to learn the tricks of her trade…she studies diligently to become an asset to the company for which she is employed.

Unfortunately, not everyone can and not everyone will observe to their betterment. Such individuals rely on their natural ability to carry them through life, and don’t see a need to look further. They lack the ability to see beyond their present talents, and this hinders their personal growth. You, however, have the character of a chameleon. You are at an advantage, because you see that you have room for improvement. You can easily observe all your traits that need an upgrade.

Observation is a key element to our Christian faith. The Lord says this in regard to people who don’t observe:

Look, you blind, that you may see. Who is so blind as he that is at peace with me, or so blind as the servant of the Lord? You have seen many things, but you do not observe them. – excerpt from Isaiah 42:18-20

Chameleons have a stark advantage toward understanding the scripture – let it not be wasted on us. The Bible is more than mere words on a page…we must not only see, but observe. We must hold God’s word as the blueprint by which we mold our lives. Let us use our “360 degree” field of vision to observe every detail – the whole counsel of God.

Still ashamed of being a chameleon? Don’t let this escape your notice. #2: The Character of a Chameleon is one of…

• The tongues of chameleons are two to three times longer than their bodies.
• They are able to shoot their tongues out at high speeds in both high and low temperatures, which other reptiles cannot do.
• They use both their eyes and tongues to capture their prey: their sharp eyes first spot their target then their long tongues grab the insect.

– Chameleon Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com – KidsKonnect, November 7, 2018

If you are a “chameleon”, you have been given excellent eradication skills. You are able to quickly remove what others cannot. You can effectively take down your target and convert the unwanted intruder to positive energy.

Eradication is a valuable tool in many areas of life:

• Eradication allows a wife to avoid giving any turn-offs to her man (whether somatically, soulishly, or spiritually)…she finds out which of her habits are undesirable or loathsome to him and permanently lays them aside.
• Eradication allows a mother to break her previous cycles of poor parenting…she replaces impatience with patience, a raised tone with a lower tone, and harsh judgments with an understanding heart.
• Eradication allows an employee to nip her bad habits in the bud…she takes constructive criticism seriously and adjusts her work ethic and attitude accordingly.

Unfortunately, not everyone can and not everyone will eradicate to their betterment. Such individuals don’t see anything wrong with the way they’ve always done things. They lack the ability to ditch their negative traits, and this hinders their personal growth. You, however, have the character of a chameleon. You are at an advantage, because you are repulsed by all that is lesser within you. You don’t feel at rest until you remove the wrong and make it right.

Eradication is a key element to our Christian faith. Ezekiel 18:31 gives this admonition:

Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?

Chameleons have a stark advantage toward removing sin from the heart – let it not be wasted on us. We can not allow ourselves to be complacent when it comes to wrongs in our spirit, but continually work hand-in-hand with God to weed them out. We must replace negative traits with positive ones. Let us capture our prey (our sin) with lightning speed and devour it…before it devours us.

Still ashamed of being a chameleon? Don’t let this escape your notice. #3: The Character of a Chameleon is one of…

• Chameleons don’t disappear; they change colors to blend into their environment.
• Most species change color; some can even change the pattern and mix of colors.
• Chameleons change colors as a defense mechanism from predators, a signal to other chameleons, and as a technique to regulate body temperature.

– Chameleon Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com – KidsKonnect, November 7, 2018

If you are a “chameleon”, you have been given excellent adaptation skills. You are able to become what others cannot. You can transform into something far more beautiful and refined than your first form.

• Adaptation allows a wife to morph into the woman of her husband’s dreams…she adapts to the qualities her man finds attractive in a woman and win his favor.
• Adaptation allows a mother to bond with her child…she adapts to tried-and-true parenting techniques and becomes a better mom.
• Adaptation allows an employee to rise in her company’s ranks…she adapts to the business model of her superiors and impresses her boss.

Unfortunately, not everyone can and not everyone will adapt to their betterment. When such individuals reach the end of their natural ability, they find themselves unable to progress further in life. They lack the ability to become more than what they are, and this hinders their personal growth. You, however, have the character of a chameleon. You are at an advantage, because you can copy what you see. You have the very real gift of becoming what you admire.

Adaptation is a key element to our Christian faith. We are called to:

…be imitators of God, as beloved children. – Ephesians 5:1

Chameleons have a stark advantage toward transforming into God’s image – let it not be wasted on us. We have the perfect example to follow in our Messiah, Jesus Christ. We must pick up our cross and follow in His footsteps daily. We must find Him worthy of our imitation. Let us blend into our Savior and model our every color after Him.

Still ashamed of being a chameleon? Surely not, my friend. Chameleons are truly one-of-a-kind among God’s creation.

In conclusion…

This message is for me as well as for all of my fellow “chameleons”. No longer will I be ashamed of my God-given design. I used to think that I had no special qualities of my own, that I was merely a cheap imitation of those I considered to be “better” than myself…the naturals. Now I realize that others are not better than me, nor vice versa…we are merely different.

If it were possible for a chameleon to voice a lament in my ear, perhaps it would say: “I am a worthless creature. I have no abilities of my own! All I am is a cheap imitation…a copy. I’m nothing special.”

“Silly lizard,” I would reply, “you are a lion on the earth. Your very strength lies in your ability to adapt. This is the quality that makes you unique. Not everyone can be a chameleon, you know.” And this is what I am telling you also. Are you a skilled observer, eradicator, and adapter? Then you have the character of a chameleon. You have no cause for shame. Stand tall, and embrace your distinctive expertise…painting yourself in a beautiful array of colors.

“Living in the skin of a chameleon requires the ability to adapt and change on a dime, every single day, multiple times a day – while continuing to keep an eye on the big picture.”

http://www.thechameleoncompany.com/

For God’s glory,
CA Bolks

Chelsea Bolks is a church of Christ minister’s wife, and the home educating mother of two children. She and her family currently reside in Northwest Iowa.

“A farmer was driving his wagon along a miry country road after a heavy rain. The horses could hardly drag the load through the deep mud, and at last came to a standstill when one of the wheels sank to the hub in a rut.

The farmer climbed down from his seat and stood beside the wagon looking at it but without making the least effort to get it out of the rut. All he did was to curse his bad luck and call loudly on Hercules to come to his aid. Then, it is said, Hercules really did appear, saying:

‘Put your shoulder to the wheel, man, and urge on your horses. Do you think you can move the wagon by simply looking at it and whining about it? Hercules will not help unless you make some effort to help yourself.’

And when the farmer put his shoulder to the wheel and urged on the horses, the wagon moved very readily, and soon the Farmer was riding along in great content and with a good lesson learned.

Moral: Heaven helps those who help themselves.

– “Hercules & the Wagoner”, a fable of Aesop

This fable is clearly rooted in Greek mythology and not Christianity. We can see the evidence when the farmer calls out to the false god, Hercules, rather than to the one true God, Jehovah. Even so, there is an important Christian message we can glean from it, and that is, “practice what you pray!” The fabled farmer could not rid himself of his problem by observing it. He could not rid himself of his problem by complaining about it. Nor could he even rid himself of his problem by praying about it. It wasn’t until he put his hands to the plow, thus linking hands with his god, that he saw his problem begin to vanish. We must practice what we pray, lest our words be in vain…and furthermore an insult to our Maker.

Do you sometimes feel as if your prayers are falling on deaf ears? Do you cry out to God in the midst of problems, yet see no results? Do you long to know that your Father in Heaven is even giving your requests a second thought?

Today, I want to present three aspects that are absolutely vital to prayer. While implementing these three practices will not guarantee your right to receive every circumstance for which you pray (after all, God is not a genie in a bottle to obey our every whim; and He sees the big picture that our pea-sized human brains can not), I can guarantee that your walk with the Lord will be so radically changed for the better by means of your prayer life, that you will be content whether He answers your prayer with a “yes”, a “no”, or a “not yet”. You will know with each and every prayer that He has heard your case, and that will be enough.

1. If you want to be heard of the Lord, you must…

A tavern was being built in a town that until recently had been dry. A group of Christians in a certain church opposed this and began an all-night prayer meeting, asking God to intervene. Lightning struck the tavern building, and it burned to the ground. The owner brought a lawsuit against the church, claiming they were responsible. The Christians hired a lawyer, claiming they were not responsible. The judge said, “No matter how this case comes out, one thing is clear. The tavern owner believes in prayer and the Christians do not.

– Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, edited by Michael P. Green; entry #1020

Are you ardent in your prayer life? That is, are you passionate and sincere when you pray, believing that the Lord can and will answer your prayer favorably if it is His will? Or are you, like the Christians in the above illustration, merely throwing words at God without really trusting in His ability to bring them to pass? The book of James warns us about this latter kind of prayer. James says that we must:

“…ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything of the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” – James 1:6-8

It is important to remember that, while we do not see Him presently, our Heavenly Father is alive and sentient. Do you remember asking questions into those magic eight balls as a kid, back in the day? Your attitude most likely was this: you figured it was worth a shot, but you didn’t put a lot of stock into getting any real answers. Praying shouldn’t be like that. When we pray, we are conversing with Someone who is active, alert, and attentive.

If you lack ardency in your prayers, the root cause is likely feelings of doubt. The remedy for doubt is faith, which is built by hearing God’s word. (Romans 10:17) It may sound cliche, but getting into the Bible is truly the best way to combat feelings of doubt in your life. In the same way that a wife may look to texts/emails/letters from her husband to solidify her faith in her husband’s love; so may a Christian look to letters from God to solidify their faith in their Father’s love. This, among other faith-building habits (i.e. faithful worship and fellowship with God’s people, listening to sermons on scientific and historic evidence of our Creator, etc.) will bring life and authenticity to your conversations with God.

Be ardent in prayer…practice what you pray!

2. If you want to be heard of the Lord, you must…

It is not well for a man to pray cream and live skim milk.

– Henry Ward Beecher, Proverbs From Plymouth Pulpit (1887)

Prayer is not a substitute for work, thinking, watching, suffering, or giving; prayer is a support for all other efforts.

– George Buttrick, quoted in Quote Unquote by Lloyd Cory

Are you active in your prayer life? That is, do you make every effort (in your power) to partner with God in bringing what you have prayed for to fruition? Or are you taking a load off, expecting the Lord to entertain your requests single-handedly? Nehemiah is a great biblical example of a man who was active in prayer. This namesake book begins with Nehemiah receiving the disheartening news of the state of decay in Jerusalem. He said:

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. – Nehemiah 1:4

Now stay tuned…Nehemiah didn’t simply say his prayers and leave the rest in God’s hands. No, you know the story – he got off his knees and got to work. Listen to his voice of action:

The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build… – Nehemiah 2:20a

The Lord doesn’t take the prayers of an inactive person seriously. Like any good and wise father, He is more than willing to work alongside us, but He is not willing to do all the work for us. (Incapacitating circumstances excepting, of course) If we are not willing to act, we can not expect God to act on our behalf.

If you lack activity in your prayers, the root cause is likely a too mystical view of God. Verses such as the famous “ask, seek, knock” passage, when misunderstood, may give us a false sense that anything we pray for will be granted like a magic wish in a fairy tale. This is simply not the case. If we pray for a paycheck, we best be applying for a job. If we pray for a child, we best be laying off the contraceptives. If we pray for a transformed spirit, we best be renewing our mind. The Lord will not defy the laws of nature or common sense to answer our requests, but He will look with favor on us when we put our hand to the plow…and He may even lend us one of His own.

Be active in prayer…practice what you pray!

3. If you want to be heard of the Lord, you must…

A father related that during their family time each person was going to pray for one person. His son prayed to ask God to help his friend Eddie be better at school because he was so bad. When they got together the next week, the father asked his son if he was going to pray for Eddie again. “No,” the son replied, “I prayed for Eddie last week and he is still bad.”

– Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, edited by Michael P. Green; entry #1037

Are you again in your prayer life? That is, do you keep returning to the Lord over and over with your need until a) your prayer is answered, or b) He has opened your eyes to an alternative path? Or, like the little boy in the above illustration, do you give up when you don’t see results on your timetable? Jesus exhorted His disciples to be persistent in their prayers:

Then He said to them, Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’ ; and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything,’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. – Luke 11:5-8

I have always been thankful for this unusual parable. While my own sensibilities would presume it to be disrespectful to keep “bugging” the Lord, as it were, here we have Jesus Himself giving us permission and admonition to “bug away” – wow! God in Heaven can be moved by the persistence of men.

If you lack continuity in your prayers, the root cause is likely impatience. The more we want something, the more likely we are to lose patience waiting for it. But shouldn’t it be just the opposite? If you want whatever you are praying for so badly, can you not show the Father your sincerity by waiting – looking fervently for His favorable answer and not giving up? Remember that His ways are higher than our ways – there is likely good reason the Lord is making you wait. Namely, growing you and refining you – for patience is a perfecter. (James 1:4) Keep your eyes on the prize.

Be again in prayer…practice what you pray!

In conclusion…

Remember the farmer at the beginning of our lesson who got his wagon stuck in the mud? Maybe you are dealing with a problem in your life that has you feeling just as hopeless and stuck. You’ve looked at your problem, you’ve whined about it, you’ve prayed about it…but stuck you have stayed.

Have you gotten out of the wagon and started pushing yet?

Be ardent in prayer…believe wholeheartedly that God can help you.
Be active in prayer…partner with God in the work that needs to be done.
Be again in prayer…persist to the end and don’t ever stop talking to God.

Practice what you pray, because as the saying goes…

Heaven helps those who help themselves. (Aesop)

For God’s glory,
CA Bolks

Chelsea Bolks is a church of Christ minister’s wife, and the home educating mother of two children. She and her family currently reside in Northwest Iowa.

My big brother will git you fer that,
He’ll shine up your eye and he’ll step on your hat:
You’d better watch out in the mornin’, for he
Will be lookin’ fer you, jes’ for pickin’ on me.
You can slap me an’ cuff me
An’ bully and bluff me,
But I ain’t alone in this world,
There’s another
That you’ve got to meet
When you’re out on the street
Who will fix you for certain, an’ that’s my big brother.

My big brother can clean up with two
Or sixteen or eighteen big cowards like you!
An’ you’d better be careful, coz when he’s around
With only one hand he’ll knock you to the ground.
When I tell what you did
He’ll say, ‘That’s all right, kid,
I’ll just send him bawling back home to his mother.’
If you’re looking for fight
You will get it alright
The very next time that you meet my big brother.

‘My big brother!’ I heard it to-day as I passed down the street,
And it brought back to me many memories sweet
Of the days long ago when my big brother, too,
Did for me what he threatened his brother would do.
When he finished my fights,
And he stood for my rights,
With a strength I believed that no rival could smother,
And I chuckled with joy,
And I thought: ‘Lucky boy!’
For I know what it means to possess a big brother.

– “My Big Brother” by Edgar Albert Guest

Perhaps you have a big brother. Perhaps you are a big brother. Perhaps you wish you had a big brother. Whatever the case may be – whether you have firsthand experience with older brothers or are on the outside looking in – most of us would agree that a big brother is a handy guy to have around!

As Edgar Guest pointed out in his down-to-earth poetry style, a big brother is (or ought to be) someone you can always count on to have your back. Unfortunately, some big brothers don’t fit the bill. Some big brothers treat their younger siblings with contempt…sometimes ignoring them, sometimes picking on them, sometimes manipulating them…using their status of “big brother” to elevate themselves and thus demote their younger siblings. A big brother like that is one we can all do without.

Even if you had a less-than-stellar big brother, we know that there are big brothers out there who would give an arm for you. Today, we are going to talk about such a one. Romans 8:29 hints about a certain someone who is our “firstborn brother” – that is, Jesus Christ. Can you think of a better big brother than our Lord and Savior?! We as Christians are blessed with The Best Big Brother a sibling could ask for. Let us muse over three ways that Jesus takes what we know about big brothers in the family unit to a whole new level.

1. The Best Big Brother….

A great big brother is one who teaches his younger sibling(s) all he knows. You can find such a brother out on the court shooting baskets with his little brother. Teaching his kid sister how to win at chess every time. Letting them in on the secrets to his Mario Kart skills (well, some of them). He shows the little rugrats under his wing how to hit targets, pop wheelies, skip rocks, solve equations…and the list continues.

A great big brother doesn’t just teach his siblings how to succeed in the little things. He teaches them how to succeed at life. He shows his younger brother how to treat a lady. He makes sure his younger sister knows what kind of guy to avoid. He helps you with your friend troubles. He cheers you up when you’re feeling down. He gives great advice. Whatever problem you’re going through? He’s been there and done that “back when he was your age”. With such a big brother, you know there’s a practically endless supply of knowledge at your disposal…when he’s in the mood to share it!

The Best Big Brother certainly knows how to show you the game as well:

When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. – Mark 6:34

• A physical big brother may not find himself to be gifted at teaching, preferring to fly solo. Our spiritual brother’s identity as “teacher” is a vital part of His character. (John 13:13)

• A physical big brother that is gifted at teaching may still tire of our needy presence and ultimately tell us to buzz off when he needs a rest. Jesus is ever “gentle and humble in heart”; He exhorts us to “learn from Him so that we may find our rest”. (Matthew 11:29)

• A physical big brother may hold information out on us, because he prides himself on being the one and only big guy on campus. Jesus is not stingy with us, but divulges “all things He has heard from His Father” to His younger siblings, calling us “friends”. (John 15:14-15)

Jesus is The Best Big Brother, because He shows you the game.

2. The Best Big Brother…

A great big brother is one who goes to bat for you…even when you’ve made a right fool of yourself. His attitude is “if you fall, I’m going down with you”. If Big Brother has any fault, he takes responsibility for the misdeeds of the collective group. If he bears no fault, he takes the role of defense attorney – persuading Dad and Mom to go easy on his little pal(s). After all, did he not once share in the juvenile plight of his sibling(s), with no one to go to bat for him?

A great big brother never lets you walk the “walk of shame” alone. Sure, he may think you were a big dummy for doing whatever it was you did, but do Dad and Mom really need to know that? He’ll give you a stern talking-to later, but the first priority is getting you out of the line of fire that is your parents’ wrath. With such a big brother, you know that you won’t be left alone to answer for yourself.

The Best Big Brother certainly knows how to share in the blame as well:

Therefore, He had to be made like unto His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. – Hebrews 2:17

• A physical big brother may be apathetic towards our parental predicament. After all, whatever trouble we find ourselves in, it’s not his problem! Our spiritual brother stands up for us and smooths things over with Dad, as our “advocate” and “propitiation for our sins”. (1 John 2:1-2)

• A physical big brother, though perhaps being equally guilty in wrongdoing, may chicken out and leave us to bear a mutually-deserved punishment alone. Jesus, who “knew no sin”, became “sin on our behalf” – taking our blame upon Himself when He had zero part in it. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

• A physical big brother may (whether secretly or openly) be delighted when we get “busted”…it cements his status as the golden child and gives him future ammunition with which to deride us. Jesus not only understands our weaknesses, having been “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin”, but he also “sympathizes” with us…compelling Him to extend mercy and grace to us when we have need of it. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Jesus is The Best Big Brother, because He shares in the blame.

3. The Best Big Brother…

A great big brother is one who keeps the bullies at bay. Nobody better pick on his sibling(s) unless they want to feel his wrath! Any would-be assailants are sent running for the hills at the mere thought of contending with Big Bro.

A great big brother is a superhero in the eyes of his kid brother or sister. Got a battle? He’ll fight it for you. Got an enemy? He’ll send them packing. With such a big brother, you know you’ll be safe from harm’s way.

The Best Big Brother certainly knows how to shove off the gang as well:

And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. – Revelation 12:9-10

• A physical big brother may think he’s “too cool” to get involved in the affairs of his little sibling. He wouldn’t dream of being seen defending a little pipsqueak in public – the guys might think he’d gone soft! Our spiritual brother allowed Himself to be “made for a little while lower than the angels”, He willingly “tasted death for everyone”, and He is “not ashamed to call us brethren”. He was willing to humble Himself and become “flesh and blood” for our sake – so that He “might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil”. (Hebrews 2:9; 2:11; 2:14)

• A physical big brother may dismiss our concerns over bullies. He might think we’re overreacting, and need to grow a backbone. He may think we’re making up stories just to get attention. Jesus is well aware of the enemy we face in Satan. Rather than diminishing the very real threat that the devil is to us, he acknowledges it: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” – but that’s not the end of the story – our big brother will take that thieving bully down. Jesus assures and comforts us – He came “that we may have life, and have it abundantly”. (John 10:10)

• A physical big brother may, in fact, be our bully himself. He might abuse his elder position in the family, treating younger siblings to a steady diet of his cruel teasing, blackmail, and imperious dictatorship. Jesus doesn’t use and abuse his underlings. In contrast, He says He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” – this attitude of service ultimately led Him to make the ultimate sacrifice that took us from harm’s way and sealed our bully Satan’s fate. (Mark 10:45)

Jesus is The Best Big Brother, because He shoves off the gang.

In conclusion…

Every one of you reading this article – from the only child to the member of a family full of brothers – has the opportunity to form a relationship with The Best Big Brother. Being Jesus’ little brother or sister has its perks: He will Show You The Game, He will Share In The Blame, and He will Shove Off The Gang. Metaphorically speaking, Jesus is The Best Big Brother. Literally speaking? He is all that and so much more, because…

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. – Proverbs 18:24b

For God’s Glory,
CA Bolks

Chelsea Bolks is a church of Christ minister’s wife, and the home educating mother of two children. She and her family currently reside in Northwest Iowa.