Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly LOVE continue.
Yes my Friends, on this beautiful summer’s day, our doing that would be ever so pleasing to our God! That shows His care and concern for others through us. Jesus proclaimed that there were two basic commandments: LOVE God, and your neighbour as yourself. If we are intent on fulfilling Today’s Bit, then we’ll be fulfilling both commands, for we can’t truly LOVE God if we hate our neighbour; likewise we won’t really LOVE our neighbour unless there’s great adoration in our hearts for God. The two principles are inextricably tied together under one banner; reverence and service to God. Bruh Paul adamantly states; ‘Let brotherly LOVE continue.’ And so we should. But what does it mean, what does it entail in a practical application? Well Bruh Paul expounds, expands and explains it in Romans 12: ‘Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly LOVE; in honour preferring one another. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; If he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom.12:10-21) Wow! Oh Friends, that’s what brotherly LOVE is all about! I never intended to copy it all, but I couldn’t decide what to leave out, how to paraphrase it and still have it make sense. It is such a comprehensive list too, with nothing left out. The Spirit agreed and said, just include it all. (smile) So from here on in mih people, we have no excuses for not knowing or fulfilling that brotherly LOVE, a most important part of our Christian heritage. It’s one of the chief principles of Jesus’ philosophy, and a major goal in His earthly ministry; getting us to sincerely care for and help each other. As He said in the parable of the talents: ‘When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, than shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.’ (Mat.25:31-36) Quoting all that was just the leading of the Spirit again. (smile) But my people, it’s very important that we fully realize, understand and comprehend what Jesus is saying here. He’s talking about the same principle of brotherly LOVE, but shown in action though, not mere talk. He then explains about the righteous asking when and where they did all that for Him: ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren; ye have done it unto me.’ (Mat.25:40) That means, any time we do a kindness for a fellow human, it’s considered doing it to Jesus too. And that’s how He wants us, His followers, to live our earthly lives; caring for and helping each other; doing it for the great LOVE of Him that we bear in our hearts. ‘Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me ye cursed, into the everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.’ (Mat.25:41) Why? Because when they saw Him hungry, thirsty, sick, naked, a stranger, in prison, they never lifted a hand to help Him. And when they ask when they saw Him needy and never ministered to Him? ‘Inasmuch as ye did it not to the least of one of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.’ (Mat.25:45-46) Oh my people, it’s so simple! Awright, so I’m somewhat simple and naive. (smile) But why is it so difficult for us to treat each other decently eh? That’s possibly the biggest problem in our world today; what with the violence, the greed, oppression and suppression that we’re heaping on each other. And a lot of it is done in the name of some god or religion. Obviously not the One True God Jehovah or the Christian religion, for, as we can see, those things are against the basic principles of Jesus and His Heavenly Father. Oh Friends, I implore us, let’s start treating each other better nuh. It could make this rough life so much easier, happier and interesting. Let’s do a good deed, or say a kind word to someone in need. Let’s begin right now; right in our own backyard, with our friends, families, neighbours, co-workers, fellow worshippers, and whatever strangers we may come into contact with, for who knows we might be entertaining angels unawares. And there’s plenty room for improvement right where we are since much of the ill treatment meted out is within those same boundaries. Friends, to be a true Christian, we need to show brotherly LOVE. It’s what this world is about: living the Word; being a good example of its principles and precepts. Talk is simply not enough, action is also imperative! I don’t know what else to say. You have the words of both Bruh Paul and Jesus before you. Now it’s up to each of us to make a conscious decision to live in brotherly LOVE, or not. I beg us, let’s listen to Jesus’ and obey His wish. It’s the path of true wisdom since in the end, He’ll be both the judge and jury whom we’ll stand before. And if we listen to Him, when He comes adjudging in all His glory, we’ll end up on His right hand with the sheep, bound for glory, and not on the left with the goats, bound for death and eternal damnation. Much LOVE!…what a wonderful world this could be…if we all practiced brotherly LOVE…
Yes my Friends, on this beautiful summer’s day, our doing that would be ever so pleasing to our God! That shows His care and concern for others through us. Jesus proclaimed that there were two basic commandments: LOVE God, and your neighbour as yourself. If we are intent on fulfilling Today’s Bit, then we’ll be fulfilling both commands, for we can’t truly LOVE God if we hate our neighbour; likewise we won’t really LOVE our neighbour unless there’s great adoration in our hearts for God. The two principles are inextricably tied together under one banner; reverence and service to God. Bruh Paul adamantly states; ‘Let brotherly LOVE continue.’ And so we should. But what does it mean, what does it entail in a practical application? Well Bruh Paul expounds, expands and explains it in Romans 12: ‘Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly LOVE; in honour preferring one another. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; If he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Rom.12:10-21) Wow! Oh Friends, that’s what brotherly LOVE is all about! I never intended to copy it all, but I couldn’t decide what to leave out, how to paraphrase it and still have it make sense. It is such a comprehensive list too, with nothing left out. The Spirit agreed and said, just include it all. (smile) So from here on in mih people, we have no excuses for not knowing or fulfilling that brotherly LOVE, a most important part of our Christian heritage. It’s one of the chief principles of Jesus’ philosophy, and a major goal in His earthly ministry; getting us to sincerely care for and help each other. As He said in the parable of the talents: ‘When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, than shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.’ (Mat.25:31-36) Quoting all that was just the leading of the Spirit again. (smile) But my people, it’s very important that we fully realize, understand and comprehend what Jesus is saying here. He’s talking about the same principle of brotherly LOVE, but shown in action though, not mere talk. He then explains about the righteous asking when and where they did all that for Him: ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren; ye have done it unto me.’ (Mat.25:40) That means, any time we do a kindness for a fellow human, it’s considered doing it to Jesus too. And that’s how He wants us, His followers, to live our earthly lives; caring for and helping each other; doing it for the great LOVE of Him that we bear in our hearts. ‘Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me ye cursed, into the everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.’ (Mat.25:41) Why? Because when they saw Him hungry, thirsty, sick, naked, a stranger, in prison, they never lifted a hand to help Him. And when they ask when they saw Him needy and never ministered to Him? ‘Inasmuch as ye did it not to the least of one of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.’ (Mat.25:45-46) Oh my people, it’s so simple! Awright, so I’m somewhat simple and naive. (smile) But why is it so difficult for us to treat each other decently eh? That’s possibly the biggest problem in our world today; what with the violence, the greed, oppression and suppression that we’re heaping on each other. And a lot of it is done in the name of some god or religion. Obviously not the One True God Jehovah or the Christian religion, for, as we can see, those things are against the basic principles of Jesus and His Heavenly Father. Oh Friends, I implore us, let’s start treating each other better nuh. It could make this rough life so much easier, happier and interesting. Let’s do a good deed, or say a kind word to someone in need. Let’s begin right now; right in our own backyard, with our friends, families, neighbours, co-workers, fellow worshippers, and whatever strangers we may come into contact with, for who knows we might be entertaining angels unawares. And there’s plenty room for improvement right where we are since much of the ill treatment meted out is within those same boundaries. Friends, to be a true Christian, we need to show brotherly LOVE. It’s what this world is about: living the Word; being a good example of its principles and precepts. Talk is simply not enough, action is also imperative! I don’t know what else to say. You have the words of both Bruh Paul and Jesus before you. Now it’s up to each of us to make a conscious decision to live in brotherly LOVE, or not. I beg us, let’s listen to Jesus’ and obey His wish. It’s the path of true wisdom since in the end, He’ll be both the judge and jury whom we’ll stand before. And if we listen to Him, when He comes adjudging in all His glory, we’ll end up on His right hand with the sheep, bound for glory, and not on the left with the goats, bound for death and eternal damnation. Much LOVE!…what a wonderful world this could be…if we all practiced brotherly LOVE…
SCRIP-BITS 