Treated as a stranger?

B. A. Manakala

Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me; they treat me like a stranger. (Ps 69:8 nlt)

His brothers threw him into a cistern and later sold him to the traders passed by. But gradually he became the prime minister of Egypt. Later, as he had dreamt long ago, his brothers came and bowed at his feet, without realising that it was their brother Joseph whom they had sold many years ago! The next moments of reunion, fellowship and celebration they had together will let anyone shed joyful tears!

We all would have brothers and sisters and parents either as our own or in our spiritual relationships. Either way, they may consider you a stranger at times. You may have to still trust God and accept them as your own just as Joseph did to his brothers, rather than considering a revenge. 

Peter who walked with Jesus about three years pretended as though he never knew him, when Jesus was about to be crucified. There is only one who said with confidence ‘I am with you always’; and only he can fulfil such a promise.

How would you prayerfully decide to never consider your brothers and sisters strangers?

Always be prepared to be treated as a stranger; and never treat your brethren as strangers!

Prayer: Lord, help me to remind myself often that you never treat me as a stranger, and never treat my brethren as strangers. Amen

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