Who Is My Brother?

Uplook – November 2021 — Grace & Truth Magazine

Who Is My Brother?

“He that loves his brother abides in light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.” — 1 John 2:10 JND

In his first epistle the apostle John gave clearly the characteristics of the life we possess in the Lord Jesus Christ. He emphasized that God is light and God is love. But as we consider our verse above, we may wonder, “Who is my brother that I ought to love?”

Many years before John wrote this letter, the leaders of his nation threatened him. He was told not to preach in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:18), whom they had rejected and put to death. When John and Peter were let go by these leaders they came to their own company.

Sometimes believers speak about social involvement with others; John had his companions – all those who belonged to the Savior and acknowledged Him as Lord of their lives. They had obtained “like precious faith” (2 Pet. 1:1) with him and were born into the family of God. These are the ones we ought to love.

This practical love is an outflow of the divine life we possess in and through the Lord Jesus. The “old man has been crucified with Him [Christ]” (Rom. 6:6). Even though the old nature is still with us, we now have the capacity to love through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is through Him that “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts” (5:5). Perfect love recognizes the objects because they are Christ’s, and we should desire to minister to them because we see Christ in them.

By Klaas Rot

You will notice we say “brother” and “sister” ’round here,
It’s because we’re a family and these folks are so near; When one has a heartache, we all share the tears, And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear. — Gaither Vocal Band, from “The Family Of God”