SCRIPTURE
13:1 Keep on loving each other as brothers
OBSERVATION
After 12 chapters of doctrine the author reminds them that the doctrine has practical application to life and living, our position in Christ leads to a practical life. True faith demands true living. So the author spends some time on some practicals. He starts with being a community characterized by love.
UNDERSTANDING
The greatest is love for our fellow spiritual family members. This brotherly love (literal translation being deep affection for our family member) is foundational to our practice. Having experienced the love of God that is complete, without any strings attached, we are called to love one another in the same way. Putting away bitterness, malice, envy etc and choosing to love we work out our relational issues in an environment when there is the presence of a reconciling spirit. Always looking for the restoration of relationships rather than the cutting off of relationships.
This kind of love is important for a few reasons...it show the world that we belong to Christ; it reveals our true identity to ourselves; and it is pleasing to God. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). In effect, God gives the world a right to evaluate us on the basis of our love for each other. As a witness to the world, and as a testimony for our Lord, it is important that we consider others better than ourselves, that we look out for their interests above our own, because in doing so, our lives preach a powerful sermon. We are living epistles. Loving our Christian brothers and sisters also shows our true identity—it gives added assurance to us of our life in Christ. “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death” (1 John 3:14).
“Do I care about the Christians I know? Do I enjoy their fellowship? Do I show my concern by ministering to their needs?” If the answer is yes, we have no better evidence that we are a child of God—because we love His other children, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Loving our fellow spiritual family members is important because it is pleasing to God, an act of worship. Nothing is more pleasing to parents than to see their children caring for each other. When His children care for each other, help each other, and live in harmony with each other, God is delighted and worshipped. When we love each other to the degree where we are willing to give our lives for one another, we live out the example of Jesus. “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).
LIFE APPLICATION
Lord let my life of worship not only show in a Sunday service of lifting my hands or singing some songs, but let my life of worship be evident in how I choose to love Your people. I admit that they frustrate me and offend me and disappoint me many a time but let me show Your kind of love by loving them enough to let it go or confront if I know it is going to fester and cause problems. Thanks for demonstrating that kind of love for me now I want to pass it on.