To sum up, all of you be
harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not
returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead;
for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 1
Peter 3:8-9
The People Have Brotherly
Love
In 1969, the Hollies singing group recorded a song soon to be
a number one hit across the nation. “He
Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” was an almost instant hit. Who could not be touched by the poignant
words and lyrical picture painted by that song.
There is just something about how love in a relationship can lighten a
load.
Peter says that when you “sum it up”, one of the qualities
of a powerful church is they love like brothers. The word used is the base word for
Philadelphia – the city of brotherly love.
This is not a God-love shown to each other. It is not “agape” love that loves without
having to have a reason. It is the human
kindness which is a sign of being a child of God. Jesus said of those who
followed Him, By this all men will know
that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35
Kindness in the church is not something we demand but
something we display. There are
those who join for attention instead of ministry. Such persons in a family or a fellowship soon
lose their usefulness and even become problems.
But the church that makes a difference is a church with a flowing,
familial kindness and love. There are
not very many organizations that refer to each other as “brother” or “sister”
anymore. It just seems so old-fashioned
and out of place. In the world today
that may be so, but the truth is those in the church are my brothers and
sisters in Christ.
It feels good to have a
family. There is a sense in which I feel
connected and accepted when I belong to a family. For many of us, we are the only survivors of
our earthly family. Or, our family is so spread out we really have no “ties
that bind” except for the fellowship of those in the church. I have heard family members refer to one
another as “blood kin”. Well, so are my
brothers and sisters in the church; we are one in the blood of Christ!
Peter says that an important
quality of a good fellowship is that it feels like a family. We could not agree more.
Scripture to Claim
We ought always to give thanks to God for you,
brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the
love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; (2 Thessalonians
1:3)
