ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE DAY

“Brotherly Devotion”

Romans 12:10a
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

 

Sometimes demonstrating brotherly love is something that needs a little work. Whether it is within our own church or between denominations. I am reminded of a story I read once to illustrate this point:
I was walking across the Golden Gate Bridge when I came upon a man prepared to jump. I tried to convince him not to commit suicide and told him simply that God loved him. I noticed a tear came to his eye. "Are you a Christian?" I asked. "Yes," he said. "Me too! What a small world. What denomination?" "Baptist." "Me too!" I said. "Southern or American?" "American," he answered. "Wow," I said. "It's a miracle, me too! Are you American Baptist Conservative or American Baptist Liberal?" "American Baptist Liberal." "Die, you heretic, die," I said as I pushed him off the bridge.
Rather than dividing Christians into denominations with labels and factions, Paul instructs we are to be devoted to the brother sitting next to us. Including all of our brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of which church is attended -- Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, affiliated or not -- we are all part of the same body and represent the entire spectrum of Christianity as God intended.

 

When you attend church and look around at your brothers and sisters in Christ, do you feel at home, or as if you were somehow switched at birth? Why? Devotion is the key. We are to love one another with the same kind of reciprocal love of parents and children, and brothers and sisters. Extend yourself this week. God intended for His family to love one another.

http://www.ptl.org/code/devotionals.php?day=805