regarded themselves all of one family. Their society was not a communistic one as some have charged, just be­cause they "had all things common" (Acts 2:45). But as members of one household, and in the spirit of home life, the shared their possessions "as every man had need" (Acts 2:45). This ideal condition could only exist so long as the family spirit existed in the church. And so it is today. We find in many churches a lack of brotherly love, simply because the "family spirit" does not exist. Unless brethren regard one another as members of one family, then brotherly love cannot be there.

Regardless of who a fellow Christian may be, we owe him a debt of broth­erly love. We may owe our brethren many things in life, and may pay those debts. But the debt which is never paid in full is love ( Rom. 13:8). We learn from this passage that the debt of brotherly love is always owed; it is never paid in full. You may owe your brother some money. If so, pay it. You may owe him some labor. If so, perform it. You may borrow from your brother. If so, return it. All these areas include debts that can be paid in full, but the debt of brotherly love is always due.

Since we are considering philadel­phia, and therefore love within a fam­ily, we ought to consider the source of such love. It springs from a common Fatherhood. God is the Father of all Christians, and all Christians are brethren. God is the "Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named" (Eph. 3:14-15). Therefore, we bear a brotherly relationship to Jesus Christ. Each Christian can claim God's Son as his brother. What was the attitude of Jesus toward his brethren? It was the greatest example of philadelphia the world has ever seen. He said, "a new commandment I give unto you. That you love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34). To what extent did Je­sus love his brethren? "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his mends" (John 15:13). So, the source of such love is heavenly in nature.

True philadelphia has a great effect upon the unbeliever also. He looks at Christians, members of one family, and their attitude toward one another in brotherly love, and cannot help but be impressed and influenced by it. Herein is another important reason for us to make sure brother love is prac­ticed properly. When a non-believer sees Christians striving and contend­ing with one another; when he sees unconcern one for another, he can hardly be blamed for not being a Christian, if this is the only conception of Christianity that he has. On the other hand, if a non-Christian sees brethren with common love, mutual help and forbearance, he must be in­fluenced for good. Probably the worst kind of war in the world is a civil war. When brethren are engaged in a "civil war" in the church, men cannot see our good works and glorify God, for such strife one with another precludes time for good works.

May we all learn philadelphia to a greater extent. We cannot go to heaven without it. We cannot make the claim to love God if we do not love our brethren (1 John 4:20). A short, simple verse from the pen of the Hebrew writer says it all: "Let broth­erly love continue" (13: 1). May we all be willing to let it be so. – Bill Moseley

 

 

 

Satan himself once told God that he came from "going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it" (Job. 1:7). Generally speaking then, he works in the world. But how about more specifically?

In Acts 5: 3, Peter told Ananias and Sapphira that Satan "hath filled thine heart. . ." From this we learn that he works in the human heart. In fact, this is one of his favorite workshops! He even entered into the heart of Ju­das, one of Jesus' own apostles (John 13:2).

He works in the human race. Peter called him an adversary that "walked about, seeking whom he may % vour" (1 Pet. 5:8). It makes no differ­ence to Satan; he will take any that he can.

He works in the church if given the opportunity. In Revelation 2: 13 John wrote to the church in Pergamos, saying that Satan had a seat there! Here is why the church must be kept pure; Satan must not get a foothold. Yet because of worldly brethren, careless watch­ men and unconcerned Christians, the first thing we know, Satan is in his pew!

He is not lazy; he works, doing so wherever he can. - Bill Moseley