Cherish Brotherly Love
21st JANUARY 2023
Now that, through your obedience to the truth, you have purified your souls for cherishing sincere brotherly love, you must love another heartily and fervently. 1 Peter 1:22 Weymouth
The verse begins by saying that we have purified our souls through obedience to the truth. This obedience is not simply a matter of following rules or commandments, but of having a living and active faith in Jesus Christ. Remember, the truth is Jesus Christ. When we truly believe in Him and submit our lives to Him, we are transformed from the inside out. We become new creations, and our hearts are purified by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is within the new creation identity that we ought to cherish brotherly love. When we cherish sincere brotherly love, we are fulfilling one of the greatest commandments that Jesus gave us. He said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). This is not just a suggestion, it is a commandment. We are called to love one another, just as Jesus loved us. It is only the power of the Holy Spirit working in us that can generate this kind of love.
Notice, however, that this love is not just for any person, but specifically for the “brethren.” This love is for our fellow believers in Christ. It is a love that is rooted in our common faith and shared identity in Him. It is a love that is strengthened and nourished by the Spirit of God. And it is a love that is purified, not by our own efforts, but by the blood of Jesus.
It is also important to mention that in our verse for today, the Greek word used for “sincere” is “anupokritos,” which literally means “without hypocrisy.” In other words, when we talk about sincere brotherly love, we are talking about a love that is genuine and not just for show. This is a love that is not just about words, but about actions. It is a love that is not just about feeling good, but about doing good. It is a love that is not just about us, but about others.
Heavenly Father, I pray for every Jesus follower, that our love may abound more and more. Please do a work in our hearts and minds, to change us from the inside out. Help us see others the way You see them, to love them as You love them. We trust You to use our love to draw more people to Yourself, and to bring glory to Your name, Amen.
Further Reading: 2 Timothy 1:13–14
Bible In One Year: Genesis [21–24]
‼️ IMPORTANT NOTICE ‼️
CATALYST CHANGE IN VENUE
Hello, fam
Trust we are having a great day?
Kindly take note of this very important message:
Our venue for Catalyst this Saturday has changed due to circumstances beyond our control.
The NEW VENUE is now WINNERS CHAPEL, GHANA; Youth Auditorium- Avenor
The time is still 9 AM prompt.
Please share this information once you have read it. Thank you and see you this morning 🥰
