Step One – Pray - Reconciliation

“How delightfully good when brothers live together in harmony!” (Psalm 133:1, CSB)

Don’t you just love the words “delightfully good?” With apologies to my Cardinals-loving friends, this reminds me of standing and singing “Go Cubs Go” after a home victory at Wrigley Field. As a lifelong Cubs fan, this song sends chills. Every time. Delightfully good.

In late 2014, Bobbie, my wife of almost forty-five years, stepped into eternity. Before she died, not disclosing any of this to me, she told two of her friends, “I want Robert to marry Nancy Leigh DeMoss.” At fifty-six years old, Nancy had never been married. She believed from the time she was a young girl that the Lord had distinctly set her apart to study and teach the Bible as a single woman. This isn’t to say that she wasn’t an outspoken advocate of marriage. In fact, she was.

Nancy will tell you that even though she had three brothers (she was the oldest of seven DeMoss children), she knew very little about men. So, I had the fun of schooling her. One of the early “lessons” in our journey was my telling her that “men compare and compete.” This isn’t completely true of every man, but let’s say that, as one of them myself, it’s likely true most of the time. Maybe you agree.

The story of Jacob’s twelve sons could be “exhibit A” for this truth. Joseph had it all . . . mostly their father’s unmasked approval. When his brothers compared themselves to Joseph, they were the losers. And forget competing. They didn’t have a chance.

Until this little family reunion found in these verses, the twelve men were never going to be able to make peace. Much less meet, embrace, talk, and, yes, reconcile. But they did. You and I can, too.

But how?

Now, I’d love to walk you through some important and very simple steps to get from where you are now to where you’d like to be with this other man. This foe.

Wait? What? Pray for this man? This scoundrel? Yes.

Who says? Actually, Jesus says:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45, CSB)

And what should I pray?

Pray for his success. His health. His family. His relationships with others . . . starting with you. Ask the Lord to bless him and to do a work in his life.

Once you’ve started doing this, you’re ready for the next move. Tomorrow.