“PHILADELPHIA”

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

Romans 12:10

Do you genuinely love your fellow believers?

As we continue our study in Romans 12, Paul is commanding believers to love with brotherly affection. Every genuine Christian is a child of God and a member of His family. With that connection, we are to relate to one another as spiritual siblings.

Genuine Christian brotherhood goes beyond the four walls of the church building, or in the case of many churches today, beyond the screens of their smartphones. Before Jesus was arrested, He spoke to the 11 disciples and gave them a life-changing command that would be the measuring stick by which Christian love was measured:

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:35

In obedience to the Lord’s command, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia looked past the racial differences and extended their help to the suffering Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-30). What they did was instrumental to the breaking of the barrier between Jews and Gentiles (at least within the Christian community).

The second part of verse 10 describes the first. Paul is not promoting competition within the body of Christ; instead, he is telling them to honor fellow believers by showing humility and putting others’ interests before their own (Philippians 2:3-4).

It’s pretty easy for church members to argue and harbor hurt and offenses, especially if we fail to understand that we are brothers and sisters. While it may be true that we’re not related physically, if all of us are in Christ, then we have a common denominator. Every genuine believer has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9), who enables us to show brotherly love for one another. When we love others as we do ourselves, we prove that Christ is in us.

However, if we put too much emphasis on our feelings and refuse to help a brother or sister in need, we aren’t being obedient to Christ’s command. A lack of love for others reveals a lack of love for God.

May God give us strength and allow us to demonstrate brotherly love ( Greek “philadelphia”) to our fellow Christians. May we be ready to come to their help when they need it.

Pursue the Savior today!