“Let love be without dissimulation (sincere, real). Abhor what is evil; cleave to what is good. 10. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.”
As I read this text this morning, I thought, “the Bible really gives us some good advice if we will really heed it." The text printed above is a case in point. When we became Christians, we entered into fellowship with our fellow Christians. We need to make the best use of that fellowship, not just to enjoy one another’s company, but to serve as witnesses to the world. Let me share what I mean via this text. We need to really love each other. The word that the KJV translates as “dissimulation” literally means to sincerely love each other, or as I wrote above: Really love each other! Verse 10 clarified to me what this loving fellowship would entail. “Kindly affectioned” means that we are to be devoted to each other as brothers and sisters. In verse 9 we are told to “agapay” each other, that is to love as Christ loved us. In verse 10 we are told to “philos” each other, that is to love as brothers and sisters. We are in the family of God together; therefore, we need to sincerely love each other as brothers and sisters. We are not “blood kin” but we are linked by the blood of Christ. Let’s find it in our hearts to sincerely love each other. We are to really hate evil. “Abhor that which is evil” is not really difficult to understand. We know right from wrong, and we need to discern the difference. In relation to our fellowship, it can mean that we are to hate what might divide us and bring a rift in the fellowship, or give a poor witness to the world. This is not a call to be Pharisaic and self-righteous. It is a call to live godly lives. None of us will be perfect, but we surely need to be aware of our own personal morality, and of the life that we are presenting to the world. We are to really hold on to what is good. “Cleave (cling) to what is good” is emphatic. Of course this refers to living a morally good life, but it also means to cling to doing what is good. We need to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit when He leads us into opportunities to do what is good. There might be a shut-in person that you know you need to visit. There might be someone who is hungry who needs your help. Indeed, we should celebrate opportunities to do good for other people. The world needs Christians who are eager to do what is good for someone else. Call me silly, but to me that looks a lot like Christ. These verses give us a good example of what it means to live in close Christian fellowship. Bro. Joe
1 Comment
Linda Brooks
11/16/2016 07:39:43 pm
I Pray WE ALL remember this as we stand in Church singing.....I'm So Glad I'm A Part Of The Family Of GOD. This TRULY was an EYE-OPENER !!!
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