Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today, let’s discover and appreciate a ‘frother’, which is someone who is both a friend and brother.

In today’s scripture, Mark 3:34-35 (NLT), Jesus said…
[34] Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. [35] Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

And in John 15:13-15 (NLT) He said…
[13] There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. [14] You are my friends if you do what I command. [15] I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

Consider…
I am blessed to have some amazing ‘frothers’ in my life. I coined the term from Proverbs 17:17 (KJV), which says…
[17] A friend loveth at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

My ‘frothers’ both love at all times and are there through my adversities.

But as amazing as my three closest ‘frothers’ have been, they cannot compare to what Jesus Christ means to me. Permit me to share why Jesus means soo much.

Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to hang out with a lot of friends. My mother was very protective and strict. Accordingly, I spent a lot of make believe time with imaginary friends.

At the age of fourteen I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at a church camp. I subsequently attended and graduated from that church’s school. During a chapel session at school I was introduced to Jesus as a friend, based on today’s second scripture. That was a life changing moment, because Jesus as a friend filled in all the empty relationship spaces in my life.

You see I was a very beloved baby of the family. I have great siblings and was blessed to be the son of an amazing mom. Not only that, my mom’s village loved on me thoroughly. Still, I couldn’t talk to any of the wonderful people in my life about the most intimate and challenging things in my life, without being judged or shunned.

Then I met my BFF, best friend forever, Jesus and everything changed. Prayer became a transparent conversation with a friend who loved me unconditionally. And I met someone who didn’t have to care about me, but chose to care enough to die so that I can live. Yes indeed, John 15:13-15 was a game changer to my understanding of friendship.

Later in my spiritual growth, the Holy Spirit showed me that God was my Heavenly Father, and Jesus was my big brother. And there was no greater adversity than the penalty of death for sin, which Jesus was born to bear for me.

These two unfathomable, indescribable, undeserved relationships with Jesus Christ, as both friend and brother inspired my new term, ‘frother’.

This makes me think of 1 John 3:16 (NLT), which says…
[16] We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

And that scripture presses play on Kirk Franklin’s ‘Real Love’. His lyrics include…

It’s hard to let my feelings show
But I’ve got to let somebody know
About the love that Jesus has given me
He loosed my shackles and He set me free
Is this a dream or is this reality?
Have I finally found someone who loves me?
I just want to know!
Have you ever loved somebody?
Will you ever love somebody?
The way that Jesus loves you

You see, love is my jam because it was my friend Jesus that showed me what it really means! And it’s my big brother Jesus who intercedes for me.

So today, I encourage you to look at Jesus in yet another new way, which is a ‘frother’, because He’s truly like no other.

Today’s Song is…
Real Love

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)