Oct. 12/17 Hebrews 13:1 NKJV Brotherly love
/Let brotherly love continue.
Hebrews 13:1 NKJV
This is an imperative--a command. It can be written: Remain in brotherly love! Given the context in Hebrews it means: in view of all that is ours in Jesus Christ, live in brotherly love!
It is a very difficult command. There are those in our lives who have wounded us and offended us. To us the command is written: Live in brotherly love! I remember when our sons were young, and right on up through their late teens, they would play fight and wrestle. Sometimes it would move from play to rough-housing that hurt. But they always knew they were and are brothers. Scratches and sore arms and bruised egos notwithstanding, they let brotherly love continue.
As adults we can easily rehearse our hurts and because people have troubled us and we are too shy to ask why, we begin to make up reasons and imagine their motives. Smaller incidents great blown out of proportion. And problems that truly are big and troublesome fester because of the stubborn unwillingness of Christians to continue in brotherly love. Do not allow it. Decide each moment of each day again, to live in brotherly love. Make things right. Ask God's forgiveness. Seek the power of the Spirit so that you can face your fears and seek your brother out and with fear and trembling before God work with him to sort it out. If your brother refuses to do so, at least keep your heart open to and your hands folded in prayer for your brother that things will be restored.
The verse prior to this one is: "For our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:29 NKJV) In view of the fire of God's dreadful majesty, in view of the honour of the reputation of Jesus Christ and His forgiveness won for us by fiery trial of the cross, in view of the fact that our troubles are light and momentary in contrast with the worthiness of God and His just burning wrath against sin--put away your own small hurts and imagined wrongs.
The cost of the cross and required obedience to Jesus is real. Let brotherly love continue--put it into practice. Exercise your love towards those who are easy to love and those who are difficult to love. Remember, while you were yet a sinner, while you were hateful against God, He sent Christ to die for you, in order that His consuming fire of wrath against your sins would be spent on Jesus so that He could bring you, forgiven and free, to Himself in love. Do not take up the molten robe of anger and drape it around your shoulders as if you had a right to be angry. For you yourself will be consumed by it. God alone has a right to be angry against our wrongs and He has provided the way of healing peace.
Forgive me, Father of Fiery Justice and Costly Love. Forgive the times I want the forgiveness You offer in Jesus to be mine, but still want others to be scorched by Your wrath. Bathe my soul in healing work of Your Spirit so that I will be tender towards others, no matter their attitude towards me. Strengthen me to continue in brotherly love for the sake and glory of Jesus Christ. Amen.
