Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Brotherly love

1 Thes. 4:9-12 (ESV)
Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, [10] for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,
Brotherly love? One wonders if Paul had brothers. I see statements like this and it hits me with guilt. Typical middle child that I am my family is often a source of contention. In general, I don’t get along with my siblings for more than a few hours. Though that is not always true, and later in life you grow out of some of that. Brotherly love, you know what God is talking about. It’s true, brothers are often the closest. But when the relationship is sour it is sour, think Cain and Abel. But then good friends often refer to themselves as brothers, because they know what the relationship should be. Brotherly love, that is what we should practice. Forgiving one another, and endeavoring to share what we can and work together. Practicing hospitality and so forth. Perhaps the Masons shouldn’t have a monopoly on that market.

3 comments:

Steve Martin said...

I've been to Philadelphia.

Maybe the Masons ought to go there also and teach them how it is done.

We ought. But we don't.

Nancy said...

Well, I think that some people are just "openly" meaner than others. I'm not sure, but a "closet meanie" is probably better out in society...As for our siblings...we know what they're thinking!

Bror Erickson said...

Yes Nancy we do, because we are thinking the same thing!