Brothers to Stay Together in Unity

God wants His people to stay together in harmony, to love one another and work as a team. It is quite encouraging and admirable to be with brethren in the ecclesias.

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity!” (Psalms 133:1).  God is pleased with our unity. We should be helpful to others for we share the same faith, but if we do not help them then we are like unbelievers (1 Tim 5:8).  Brotherly love is encouraged to strengthen the bonds of unity among the believers. Love binds us together, so we ought to be peacemakers in order to be true children of God (Mat 5:9). True believers should always avoid the bitterness that causes trouble, because that defiles his people (Heb 12:15-16).

One who hates his brother is a murderer, and one who kills, eternal life does not abide in him (1 John 3:15-16).  We, at times, have problems with our brothers and sisters; do we really feel happy when we see them? How do we go about fostering healthy relationships?

Abraham had a problem with his nephew Lot and his shepherds. But he told Lot to avoid quarrelling because they were relatives (Gen 13:8).  What a wonderful example for us to emulate!  We should have the same mind and the same judgement among us (1 Corinthians 1:10).  To have different minds means that we are divided, and if the house is divided, then it will fall. Bitterness, wrath and anger, clamour and slander are to be put away from us, with all malice.  We must be kind to one another, and forgiving as God in Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:31, 32).

Let us forgive one another, which is a key to eternal life. Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins and it is only through this that we are counted worthy before the eyes of the Lord. Let us learn to forgive so that we are forgiven.

Bro David Wanjala (Chwele, Kenya)