Love the brothers

Monday 28 June 2021

Love the brothers

I constantly say to my God all the gratitude by mentioning you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. Philemon 1:4,5

God is not unfair to forget your work and the work of your love. You have shown your love for his name by the services you have rendered and you still render yourself to the saints. Hebrews 6:10

We recognize that we love God's children by loving God and keeping his commandments. 1 John 5:2

These three verses speak of the Christian's love for his brothers. Philemon loves all the brethren : those who meet in his house in Colossi, those who meet elsewhere, whether of Greek or Jewish origin, slaves or free men (Colossians 3:11). His love is so well known that Paul, a prisoner in Rome, hears about it and rejoices in it.

In the second verse quoted, God himself shows his faithfulness by remembering the love Christians have shown for him by serving their brethren. In these first two verses love for the Lord or for God (for his name) is emphasized before mentioning love for the brethren. In the third verse, John makes it clear that our love for the brethren is, and cannot be, but a consequence of the love we have for God and his Son Jesus Christ.

Yet it may happen that Christians show little love for one another. And it is true that sometimes it is very difficult to love some of them. But let's not make excuses if our love is weak ; do not be discouraged either.

Above all, let us not seek in ourselves the solution to what should characterize the children of God and the disciples of Jesus. Let us love God more, let us be more imbued with his love for us and others, let us be more aware of the love of Jesus who gave himself up in sacrifice because he loved us. This love will rekindle our love for God and the Lord, and it is this love that is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Then we will know how to show love for our brethren in the Lord’s way : As I have loved you, so do you love one another (John 13:34).

Source (Pleasing the Lord)