Love to the Brethren
Andrew Murray emphasizes the importance of loving one another as Christ loved us, showcasing it as the hallmark of true discipleship and unity among believers.
Andrew Murray emphasizes the commandment of Jesus to love one another as He has loved us, highlighting that this love is the hallmark of true discipleship. He points out that the unity and love among Christians, even amidst diverse backgrounds, serve as a powerful testimony to the world of Christ's presence. Murray notes that while there may be a sense of brotherhood among believers, the depth of Christ's love is often missing, urging believers to pray for a heart filled with this divine love. He illustrates how early Christians' self-sacrificial love astonished those around them, demonstrating the transformative power of God's love. Ultimately, he calls for a bond of love among all God's children that mirrors the love between the Father and the Son.
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"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." - John 15:12, John 13:34.
The Lord Jesus told His disciples that as the Father had loved Him, even so He loved them. And now, following His example, we must love one another, with the same love. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35). Jesus had prayed: "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17:21). If we exhibit the love that was in God toward Christ, and in Christ to us, the world will be obliged to confess that our Christianity is genuine and from above.
This is what actually happened. The Greeks and Romans, Jews and heathen, hated each other. Among all the nations of the world there was hardly a thought of love to each other. The very idea of self-sacrifice was a strange one. When the heathen saw that Christians from different nations, under the powerful workings of the Holy Spirit, became one, and loved one another, even to the point of self-sacrifice in time of plague or illness--they were amazed and said: "Behold how these people love one another!"
Amongst professing Christians there is a certain oneness of belief and feeling of brotherhood, but Christ's heavenly love is often lacking, and we do not bear one another's burdens, or love others heartily.
Pray that you may love your fellow-believers with the same love with which Christ loved you. If we abide in Christ's love, and let that love fill our hearts, supernatural power will be given us to take all God's children unto our hearts in love. As close as is the bond of love between the Father and the Son, between Christ and His followers, so close must the bond of love be between all God's children.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The Commandment to Love
- The Example of Christ's Love
- The Evidence of Discipleship
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II
- Unity in Love
- The World's Perception of Love
- Historical Context of Love Among Nations
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III
- The Lack of Heavenly Love Among Christians
- The Call to Bear One Another's Burdens
- Praying for Christ-like Love
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IV
- The Power of Abiding in Christ's Love
- The Bond of Love Among Believers
- The Role of the Holy Spirit in Love
Key Quotes
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” — Andrew Murray
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” — Andrew Murray
“Behold how these people love one another!” — Andrew Murray
Application Points
- Pray daily for the ability to love others with Christ's love.
- Actively seek opportunities to bear the burdens of fellow believers.
- Cultivate a sense of unity and brotherhood within your Christian community.