BROTHERLY love supposes family relationship; the same parentage and consequently the same nature. It should be perfectly natural for Christians to exercise brotherly love since the church of God is truly a family. All possess the same nature. All owe their origin to the same parentage. All are begotten by the word of truth and confess God as their Father, Jesus as their Saviour, and the Holy Ghost as their Comforter.
Brotherly love in exercise conduces to the continued happiness of the family; so we read: “As to brotherly love, kindly affectioned towards one another” (Rom. 12:1010Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; (Romans 12:10). N. Tr.). What a beautiful expression this is! Brotherly love in exercise, is to be kindly affectioned toward one another. How exquisitely delicate and tender this is! Nothing hurtful, nothing rough, but the affection that is marked by kindness. The kindness and love of God our Saviour has come out to us and having freely received, may we freely give.
In addressing the Thessalonians the Apostle expressed himself as having no need to write to them upon such a subject. They were “taught of God to love one another” (4:9). It was a part of their home training. The blessed God Himself, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, would instruct them in the exercise of this most precious grace. As obedient children they were doing so, not only in their own immediate circle but in all Macedonia, and they were exhorted to “increase more and more.” It this true of us? Are we taught of God in this way? Can it be said of us, “And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren,” not only in our own meetings, but those at a distance. Do we lovingly consider one another as did these Thessalonians? God help us to do so and increase more and more.
In Hebrews 13, the opening words are, “Let brotherly love abide” (N.Tr.). Changes may and do take place, but in the exercise of this there is no change. It is to abide, or continue. How the words of our adorable Lord come to the mind in this connection, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:1212This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (John 15:12)). How has He loved us? Need we ask? In like manner, through grace, are we to love one another. We lack much, but may our hearts be kept fresh in the sense of our Saviour’s love, and then shall “brotherly love continue” with us all.
Then again we react, “And beside this giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity” (2 Peter 1:5-75And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (2 Peter 1:5‑7)). Here the Apostle sets before us an addition sum, and the last but one item to be added is brotherly-kindness, brotherly love. These things have to be definitely added. Are we adding them? Amongst them, in its divinely appointed order, have we added brotherly love?
What is a company of Christians like where this precious quality is not added? Ah! well do we know. What unholy criticisms! What unfounded suspicions! What secret jealousies! What rivalries! What bickering’s! What biting sarcasms! What innuendos and unkind hints are thrown out! In fact there is present every evil work, and the ground is prepared for strife and divisions. How beautifully the Apostle gives expression, in this self-same epistle, to the exhortation he brings to bear upon those to whom he writes. At the close he says, referring to one who on a previous occasion had withstood him face to face, because he was to be blamed, “our beloved brother Paul,” also he addresses his Jewish fellow-believers, “Ye therefore beloved.”
What a charming company the assembly of God should be. Each esteeming the other better than himself. Each seeking the other’s wealth. Each loving the other with a pure heart fervently. And then, when “charity” or “divine love” itself is added as the top-stone, the stamp of the divine nature rests upon the whole. The blessed God sees in His own, His own reflection. May the Lord exercise all our hearts, as we wait for His coming, to continue to develop this precious heavenly trait and to continue in it more and more.
J. H. Evans.