SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN: “Let Brotherly Love Continue”

*DAILY BREAD- A DEVOTIONAL FOR THE CHILDREN*

EASTERN NIGERIA UNION CONFERENCE CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

*THEME: I WILL GO*

Saturday, October 2, 2021

Topic: Let brotherly love continue

“ _Now you have made yourselves pure by obeying the truth. Now you can have true love for your brothers. So love each other deeply with all your heart.” I Peter‬ ‭1:22‬ ‭‬‬_

Jesus, in Matthew 27:37-38 says that the greatest command is to love God with all sincerity. We have not and cannot see God so, how can we love Him? 1 John 4:20-21 tells us that whoever claims to love God and hates his brother is a liar, God also commands us to love our brothers to show that we love Him.

You might be wondering, who are these brothers?
In Matthew 12:50, Jesus says His siblings include everyone that does the will of God. We definitely cannot start asking every person we want to show kindness or love to, “do you do the will of God?” and that is why, in Hebrews 13:1-2, Paul in addition said “let brotherly love continue”, admonishes us to be kind even to strangers because by so doing, we may entertain angels. Galatians 3:26 says, “for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus”. This means that, we are all siblings because we share the same father. Our brothers include our church members, family members, school mates, workmates, strangers. Every human being is worthy of love. Whoever shows love to people represents the love of God to man (1 John 4:7).

Start thinking of ways to show love today because simply preaching every time is not enough (James 2:15-16). Ways to show love include giving godly advice (1 Timothy 5:1-2), giving encouragement (1 Thessalonians 5:11), forgiving those who have wronged you (Leviticus 19:18), giving freely to those in need (Deuteronomy 15:11), speaking up for the oppressed or bullied (Isaiah 1:17), sharing what we have even when it’s not enough (Luke 3:10-11), intercessory prayers (James 5:15-16), etc.

Indeed! Loving people is difficult because we may not get the same treatment back and it is human nature to want to receive as you have given but, that is what makes us special as children of God (Luke 6:32-36). We might be asking at this point, “What does love have to do with anything anyway? EVERYTHING! It is how the world knows that we belong to Jesus Christ (John 13:35). As we go about our daily activities today and for the days to come, remember to show love to people in any way you can.

*Song* :
Tis love that makes us happy,
‘Tis love that smooths the way;
It helps us mind, it makes us kind
To others every day.

*Refrain*
God is love; we’re his little children.
God is love; we would be like Him.
‘Tis love that makes us happy,
‘Tis love that smooths the way;
It helps us “mind,” it makes us kind
To others every day.

*Prayer* :
Dear God, help us to love as you love. Fill us with your Spirit so that we can do what is best. Help us to change our lives so we can change the lives of others in Jesus name. Amen.SE