Brotherly Love
Holy Spirit be with us in Jesus name. Amen.
Romans 12:10 – Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. Paul Is very clear that we should be loving one another and honoring one another. Paul is just reiterating what Jesus said in the gospel of John. John 13:34 – A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another. This commandment wasn’t new in the sense that Jesus never told us to do it before. He just knew we were putting to much “church stuff” above people and that was never the goal for His church. So you may be asking, how do I than show affection to my brother and honor him? Paul gives us a good description in 1 Corinthians in how we can achieve this almost impossible task. I say almost impossible task because Romans 12:10 says one another, assuming all people not just ones we like. That’s hard for us. 1 Corinthians 12:26 – And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Being there for each other when we are going through it is key. Letting someone know they are not alone in their mess is a great sign of brotherly love. Also being happy and not hating on them when they are successful is another great example. We don’t just get to celebrate when we succeed but we should be around with the same joyous behavior for other people success’ as well. Now I know you are probably thinking at this point I’ll show love but I’m going to love from a distance, it’s still love right? John 13:34 – A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you. The love that Jesus shows us we are undeserving. So we should duplicate this love for other people regardless what they have or have not done for us.
1 John 4:7-8 – Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. John is clear that those that do not love the way Jesus loved us does not know God. Seems harsh but John makes more sense of the matter a few verses down in the chapter. 1 John 14:20 – If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? Very practical idea for us to understand. How can we have more love for things unseen and less love for things seen. Makes no sense. The text, not me calls us liars if we say we love God yet hate each other. John takes it even a little deeper in the previous chapter. 1 John 3:14 – We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. When we accept Jesus new creatures we become ( 2 Corinthians 5:17). New life is given. However John declares that when love is not shared with each other we resort back to death as if we were never made new. John then gives good news. He pronounces a blessing on us if we love one another. 1 John 4:12 – No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. What a mighty blessing to receive. Since we have never seen God, He promises to abide in us and perfect our love when we love one another. God has employed us all to go tell and share this wonderful love He has shared with us. Many think we are not good enough or we think we don’t have what it takes to help God win over sinners. We circulate ideas in our mind that we are not smart enough, brave enough, or good enough based on education, financial status, and ethnicity to help God. But God never told us we need these things to be successful. John 13:35 – By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. This is the goal and all we need is love to accomplish it. So I challenge everyone to one day, one person at a time spread love around and watch the change we make with just that four letter word. Be Loved. Amen.