THE BLESSING OF SISTERHOOD
Part II
“All girls?!” I
have heard it all my life. The truth is,
I went from having only sisters, to now having only daughters! Four daughters, to be exact. They are our beautiful little “stair steps”,
and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.
I daily find myself in a world of pink and purple, dolls and dress-up,
hair accessories and tiaras. But it’s
what I’m used to. It’s all I’ve ever
known. God has surrounded me with female
relationships, and in so doing, He has given me a rare perspective on the
beauty and the blessing of SISTERHOOD.
You see, the blessing of biological sisterhood is very
special. The blessing of Christian
sisterhood is sacred. We’re adopted into
God’s family. We’ve been bought with a
price. Our hearts are knit together by a
common salvation. And we each have a
special purpose in the body of Christ.
Romans
12:4-6 “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the
same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members
one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is
given to us . . .”
I
Corinthians 12:4-6 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit. And there are differences of
administration, but the same Lord. And
there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all
in all.”
My girls are quite close together in age, but each one
has a personality entirely her own. God
intends for it to be that way! The same
is true in the body of Christ.
I
Corinthians 12:17-18, 20-21 “If the whole body were an eye, where were the
hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of
them in the body, as it hath pleased him . . . But now are they many members,
yet but one body. And the eye cannot say
unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have
no need of you.”
It is so easy for us to look at each other and
compare. To complain when other members of the church don’t appear to be doing
as much work as we are. But perhaps
Sister-So-And-So doesn’t possess the gift of service, as you do. Perhaps she won’t be the lady overseeing
nursery Sunday after Sunday. She has
been given the gift of exhortation and is writing encouraging letters. Or she has been given the gift of prayer and
is interceding on the behalf of every person in the church directory. Who are we to judge and say, “You aren’t
doing your part” . . . “I have no need
of thee”?
Do sisters sometimes squabble? Certainly! But God desires that, as His daughters, we
seek to be at peace with one another!
I Peter
3:8-9 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love
as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing
for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called,
that she should inherit a blessing.”
Colossians
3:13-17 “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a
quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
The Scriptures call for UNITY among the brethren. How much could our loving Heavenly Father
accomplish in this world, if His girls would only WORK TOGETHER?!
Philippians
1:27 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that
whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that
ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of
the gospel.”
Philippians
2:1,2 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love,
if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy,
that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
“She hit me!” . . . “She won’t share!” . . .
Perhaps our disagreements don’t sound so childish as grown women, but we are
prone to aggravate and annoy one another, nonetheless. This is true, even in God’s family!
“The
decorations for the Ladies’ Fellowship are horrendous!” . . . “Did you see how
short her skirt was on Wednesday night?!” . . . “She doesn’t immunize her
children!” . . . “Why am I the only one baking cookies for Vacation Bible
School?!”
Romans 12:18
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
Philippians
2:3,4 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but
every man also on the things of others.”
Caring about one another. Praying for each other. Rejoicing with those who are rejoicing, and
weeping with those who are weeping.
(Rom. 12:15)
I
Thessalonians 5:11 “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one
another, even as also ye do.”
Hebrews 3:13
“But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today. . .”
Why? Why put forth the effort to “get along”? Because we are the body of Christ!
I Corinthians
12:25-27 “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members
should have the same care one for another.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one
member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular.”
The word “schism” in that verse means “a rent, as in a
garment, a division”. Imagine a
beautiful wedding gown - the beads, the embroidery, the sparkles - but when you
lift it out of the box, you find there is a giant rip right down the front. It’s enough to bring any young bride to
tears. May the Lord help us as we seek
to “hold the stitching together” . . . As we seek to live in harmony, doing our
God-given part in the body of Christ.
There is something so beautiful about watching my little
girls ENJOYING spending time together.
Whenever I happen upon those scenes where the four of them are engaged
in some fabulous imaginative play, or where two are snuggled together on the
couch reading a book together, I immediately feel the need to grab my camera.
Such moments never seem to happen often enough!
How much more must God feel that way about us? How must HE smile, when He watches His
daughters greeting each other pleasantly in church, painting the backdrop for
Vacation Bible School without complaining, kneeling in prayer together . . .
Psalm 133:1 tells
us, “Behold, how good
and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
I encourage you to do those things that tend toward
UNITY with your sisters in Christ, this week!
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