BROTHERLY LOVE

Rev. Jim Davis, The Church Triumphant of Columbus

KEY VERSE ~ John 17:11

“I won't be in the world much longer, but they are in the world, and I'm coming back to you. Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of your name, the name that you gave me, so that their unity may be like ours.” (GW)

FOCUS ~ There is an old saying, “You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.” People know if what you do is real or just “put on.” Someone wrote a poem entitled “Just three dollars worth” that said, “All I want of God is just three dollars worth…not enough to make me love my neighbor, or give to missions, or turn the other cheek…just three dollars worth, please.” So it is with our relationship with our community, for they judge us by the real people they see. Do we pass the test? How kind are we, really?

Merriam-Webster defines BROTHERLY as “natural or becoming to brothers: affectionate <brotherly love>.” LOVE is a “strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties.”

Jesus’ great desire for his disciples was that they would become one.

· Jesus wanted all His followers – men and women - to be unified as a powerful witness to the reality of God’s love. How much are we helping to unify the body of Christ, the church? What can we do to help?

We can pray for other Christians

Avoid gossip

Build others up

Work together in humility

Give our time and money

Exalt Jesus Christ

Refuse to be sidetracked arguing over divisive matters

· Jesus prayed for unity among the believers. Christians can have unity among themselves if they are living in union with God. For example, each branch living in union with the vine is united with all other branches doing the same (see John 15:1-15). We are taught to love one another and be unified in purpose. It is a choice we can, and should, make.

The love commanded by Jesus Christ should create deep unity among Christians.

(Philippians 1:9) “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment…”

· Have you ever longed to see a friend with whom you share fond memories? Paul had such a longing to see the Christians at Philippi. His love and affection for them was based not merely on past experiences, but also on the unity that comes when believers draw upon Christ’s love.

· All Christians are part of God’s family and thus share equally in the transforming power of his love.

· Do you feel a deep love for fellow Christians, friends and strangers alike? Let God’s love motivate you to love other Christians, thus expressing that love in your actions toward them.

Unity ought to be a distinctive mark among Christians.

(Philippians 2:1-2) “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” (NIV)

· Many people—even Christians—live only to make a good impression on others or to please themselves.

· Selfishness, however, brings discord. Paul therefore stressed spiritual unity, asking the Philippians to love one another and to be one in spirit and purpose.

· Don’t be so concerned about making a good impression, or meeting your own needs, that you strain relationships in God’s family.

· When we work together, caring for the problems of others as if they were our own problems, we demonstrate Christ’s example of putting others first, and we experience unity.