ME! – September 28, 2022

Read: Hebrews 13:1-6

Let brotherly love continue.
Hebrews 13:1

ME!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

After dinner, someone asks, “Who wants the first piece of cake?” The answer is probably “ME!” On vacation, someone asks, “Who wants the biggest bed?” The answer likely is “ME!” When good things are before us, we often want it for “me, myself, and I,” right?

But if you’re in a home with more than one child, parents don’t want all of the good things to go to just one child. They want their earthly blessings to be shared with your siblings too. They also want you to share. They want to hear less “ME!” and more sibling, or brotherly, love.

God, who is our heavenly Father, wants the same for all of us, his children. He asks that we think about “ME!” less and about each other more. We are to be loving to each other before ourselves. That’s a hard thing to do when we see something really good in front of us and we want it for ourselves. Brotherly love is not easy. In fact, it is impossible, and we fall short of what God asks of us.

Good news! Though we continually fall short, we are saved by the blood of a “Brother.” When there was a good thing put before him, Jesus didn’t yell out “ME!” Instead, he used everything God gave him in brotherly love for others—even his life. He gave up his life to save our lives. That’s love! His love pays for every single time we love “me” more than God.

Now, we are brothers with Jesus and with everyone who believe in him. We might see others living out the “me first” game, but we know that Jesus wants to be together as family. We can give up our video game time to help mom when she needs it. We treat our time with family as important. And we can sacrifice screen time to be with our great brother Jesus in his Word and prayer. Instead of more “ME,” we can be “FREE!” in Jesus—not enslaved to our own wants but freed to share brotherly love!

Closing Prayer:

Lord, how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Free us from our selfish wants. Renew our joy of having you as part of our family! Strengthen us to give our lives for others. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• How did our brother Jesus show us love?
• Do you have a brother or sister? Think of a way you can you show them “brotherly love.”

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Name something that gets in the way of you showing brotherly love to someone.
• Instead of being boring, how does being with our brother Jesus in the Word bring us joy?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Give an example of Jesus showing brotherly love. Then think of a way you can model the same love.
• Discuss a time you didn’t feel very loved. Why is the brotherly love of Jesus so important to remember in that moment?