[Songs in the Night - June 9]
Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. I Peter 3:8
LOVE for the brethren is set forth in the Scriptures
as one of the indisputable evidences of our having
attained membership in the body of Christ.
This
love may be of varying degrees, but it must be ours in
some degree if we are the Lord's, for "if any man have
not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his." (Romans 8:9)
But this flame of sacred love for the brethren kindled
in our hearts is not sufficient; it must blaze, burn, and
produce in us not merely a warmth of love, but a consuming
love—love which will not only overlook various
weaknesses and imperfections in the brotherhood
and will carefully note every good quality, but love
which is ready to lay down life on behalf of the brethren
because they are of his consecrated ones, however
much they may need to strive against sin and weaknesses. Z'07-35 R3932:2 (Hymn 218)