'Let Brotherly Love Continue'
“Let brotherly love continue” (Hebrews 13:1). “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (Romans 12:10).
In these verses, “brotherly love” (Gr. philadelphia, from philia, love + adelophos, brother) describes the warm affection and mutual concern that flows from a sense of kinship — in this case, our connection to one another as fellow children of God. As John wrote, “Whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him” (1 John 5:1).
But sometimes brotherly love is hard. Why? Because our brothers and sisters are not always lovable! They may have off-putting habits or personalities. They make mistakes. They forget things, misunderstand, get their facts mixed up. They say one thing when they meant to say another, or they give an impression they didn’t intend. They don’t always use best judgment. They don’t always speak and act as they should.
Our Heavenly Father knows this, and He includes instructions like these:
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you (Colossians 3:12-13).
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).
Even when my brethren are not especially lovable, God tells me to love them anyway.
On the other hand, I may not always be lovable, either. And while I hope my spiritual family, of all people, will be patient and understanding toward me, I still need to examine myself. Some behaviors are not only sinful, they also make it harder for my spiritual siblings to love me! For instance, if I am a gossip, a busybody, or a freeloader (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13) … if I constantly complain or find fault (Philippians 2:14; Jude 16) … if I am given to petty jealousy or angry outbursts (Galatians 5:20; Colossians 3:8) … then I make brotherly love toward me far more difficult for others than it needs to be. And in doing so, I fall short in my own love toward them.
We are family, and we are to love one another as family. Brotherly love helps guard against discouragement and unfaithfulness. Christians who know they are loved are harder for Satan to victimize. Christians who love as brethren make each other stronger and show the world that we are Jesus’ disciples (John 13:35).
“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21).
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