Brotherly Love – February 12, 2023

Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.
1 Thessalonians 4:9,10

Brotherly Love

When the word Philadelphia is mentioned, one of the largest cities in the United States will likely come to mind. But when the apostle Paul used the word Philadelphia in the first verse of our Bible reading today, he was not referring to Pennsylvania’s largest city.

The Greek word philadelphia is literally translated brotherly love. The Greeks used this word to describe the love family and relatives have for each other. Paul elevates the meaning of the word to express the love that Christians, as members together in God’s spiritual family, have for each other.

As a Christian, you are privileged to be a member of two families. By your physical birth, God connected you to people with whom you are related by blood. By your spiritual birth through your baptism, God connected you with him by the blood of his Son and joined you together with all of his children through faith in Jesus.

You have come to know and experience the love of God—love that moved him to give his only Son as the sacrifice for your sins to make you his own and give you a blessed and glorious life with him forever.

As God has shown you his love, he teaches you to love others, especially those who are members of his family, by faith. As you respond to God’s merciful love, practice philadelphia toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and “do so more and more.”

Prayer:
My heavenly Father, I praise and worship you for making me a member of your spiritual family. Thank you for teaching me your love. Now help me to love others, especially those who share with me the faith in Jesus. Amen.