Born For Adversity

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." - Proverbs 17:17 ESV

What a great verse.

The second statement is an amplification of the first.

We choose to be friend but your brother is someone who is linked to you by blood. You share the same heritage because you have the same parent or parents. I don't like when a stranger calls me brother. It is popular in Christian circles to do that but that implies a commitment that I'm sure in most cases people are not prepared to live in.

Jesus loves at all times. He never joins in an attack against us. The Holy Spirit is an advocate for us.

It is in adversity that you find out who your brothers are.

Few things get me more riled up than someone attacking another person, either physically or verbally, in front of me. The big brother in me is born for that battle.

Christ, the harmless lamb, was born for battle. He took our bullet. When Peter cut a man's ear off in Christ's defense Jesus healed the man. He defended us by being our victim. He loved Peter and He loved His enemy.

That is so convicting isn't it?

Fill us with Your Spirit today God. Fill us and give us a love that loves at all times.

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