The Secret of Brotherly Love by Andrew Murray

Excerpts from INTRODUCTION:

The subject of Love, with which this little book deals, is one of the most difficult and profound of themes. It is no easy task to ascend to heaven, and to behold the heavenly glory as an ocean of holy, all-embracing love! And then to return to earth, and to see how among men, instead of brotherliness, hatred, with all its sad results, has characterized the history of all mankind; until it reached its climax in the rejection and crucifixion of the Eternal Love embodied in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Think of the state of the world at present, and then realize the power that the Evil One has to divide even God’s children from each other in bitterest enmity. What a task to reconcile the everlasting Father-love and the sad strife among the brethren, and to try to recommend this love, and to find an entrance for it in men’s hearts! And how shall we, above all, persuade God’s children to believe that this life in the love of God, and in love to the brethren, is not only possible, but a plain duty, and worth the sacrifice of all to possess and to proclaim it?

Many a Christian wearies himself in the attempt to love always, for he too often fails. The reason is simply that we have no power in ourselves to love God, or our brethren, or our enemy, "because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can he be.” The old nature ”“ or old man -loves to do its own will, and to gratify its sinful desires. To love the great and holy God, to love Christ, Who first loved us, to love our brethren and our enemies, is impossible to the carnal mind. Such love is not in ourselves. We can only receive it from above, when we cast ourselves down before God with a sense of our own impotence and unworthiness, that He may fill us………”The love of God,” with which we may love Him and our fellow-men "is shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” The fruit of the Spirit is Love, which includes all the long-suffering, and kindness, and goodness, and patience, needed in our intercourse with our fellow-men.

Amen. This is so powerful. My wife and I have seen this so true in our efforts to 'love' our enemies.

With Gods' love in our broken hearts we soar in loving intercession and expression.

Love Andrew Murray!

Thanks

Rusty

Amen, Rusty.

Blessings

FIRST DAY

LOVE AND FAITH

"This is His commandment, that we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as He gave us commandment.” ”“ 1 John 3:23

At a conference at Grand Reinet, the closing service was held on Sunday night. At the afternoon meeting we decided to take, as subject, the five great lessons to be learnt from the parable of the Vine and Branches in John 15. The subject of brotherly love fell to the lot of a certain minister. But he demurred, saying: "I cannot speak on that subject, and I have never yet preached on it.” In explanation he said: "You know that I studied in Holland, and when there the subject of love was left to the liberal section. They did not believe in God’s stern justice, nor in the redemption through Christ. God was love; that was enough. The orthodox party were not allowed to suggest that their opponents should be put out of the church. No, all should be borne in love! And so it came to pass that the orthodox party were strong in preaching faith, but left the preaching of love to the liberal section.”

The church must learn not only to preach the love of God in redemption; it must go further, and teach Christians to show that the love of Christ is in their hearts, by love shown to the brethren. Our Lord called this a new commandment: a badge by which the world should recognise His disciples!

There is great need for this preaching of love. God sometimes allow bitterness to arise between Christians that they may view the terrible power of sin in their hearts, and shrink back at the sight. How greatly a minister and his people should feel the importance of Christ’s command: "Love one another.” A life of great holiness will result, if we really but love each other as Christ loves us.

May the reading of this booklet help us to understand the two manifestations of love: the wonderful love of God in Christ to us, and the wonderful love in us, through the Holy Spirit, to Him and our brethren.

SECOND DAY

FAITH AND LOVE

"And the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love.” ”“ 1 Tim. 1:14.

"Your work of faith and labour of love.” ”“ 1 Thess. 1:3.

"The breastplate of faith and love.” ”“ 1 Thess. 5:8.

"Your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of each of you all toward one another aboundeth.” ”“ 2 Thess. 1:3.

These expressions of the Apostle Paul show us the true connection between faith and love in the life of the Christian. Faith always comes first; it roots itself deeply in the love of God, and bears fruit in love to the brethren. As in nature the root and the fruit are inseparable, so is it with faith and love in the realm of grace.

Too often the two are separated. On the Day of Pentecost they were one. There was a powerful faith towards the Lord Jesus, with a fervent love to the brethren. The sum of the preaching on that day was: Believe in the name of Jesus Christ, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. And the natural result followed: "And all that believed were together and had all things common.” "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.”

Alas, that this should not have been wholly the case at the Reformation. A powerful reformation took place in regard to the doctrine of faith, but at the same time what a lack of love there was between the preachers and the leaders in that faith! So the world was not taught the lesson that God’s love was all-powerful to sanctify the whole life of man!

Let this thought sink deep into our hearts: "The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love.” As we cultivate FAITH IN GOD’S LOVE, our hearts will be FILLED WITH LOVE TO THE BRETHREN. The genuineness of our faith in the love of God must be shown by love in our daily lives at home.

May God help us from day to day by faith to be rooted in this love, that we may at all times be living examples of its truth and power, and so become a blessing to others.

THIRD DAY

THE LOVE OF GOD

"God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in Him.” -- 1 John 4:16.

May God through His Holy Spirit grant us grace rightly to adore this unfathomable mystery.

Jesus said: "None is good save one, even God.” The glory of God in heaven is that He has a Will to all that is good. That includes the two meanings of the word: GOOD, all that is right and perfect: GOOD, all that makes happy.

The God Who wills nothing but good is a God of love. He does not seek His own: He does not live for Himself; but pours out His love on all living creatures. All created things share in this love, to the end that they may be satisfied with that which is good.

The characteristic of Love is that she "seeketh not her own;” She finds her happiness in giving to others; She sacrifices herself wholly for others. Even so God offered Himself to mankind in the Person of His Son, and the Son offered Himself upon the cross to bring that love to men, and to win their hearts. The everlasting love with which the Father loved the Son is the same love with which the Son has loved us. THIS SELF-SAME LOVE OF GOD, CHRIST HAS POURED INTO OUR HEARTS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT, so that our whole life may be permeated with its vital power.

The love of God to His Son, the love of the Son to us, the love with which we, in obedience to His command, love the brethren, and try to love all men and win them for Christ ”“ all is the same eternal, incomprehensible, almighty love of God. Love is the power of the Godhead, in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This love is the possession of all who are members of the body of Christ, and streams forth from them to take the whole world within its compass.

Unsearchable, adorable wonder of love! "He that abideth in love, abideth in God, and God in him.” O my soul, meditate on this wondrous love, and adore the great God of Love!

FOURTH DAY

THE LOVE OF CHRIST

"The love of Christ constraineth us.” ”“ 2 Cor. 5:14.

God sent His Son into the world to make known His everlasting love, even as it was known in heaven. God’s existence there is in the glory of that love; all His angels are as tongues of fire overflowing with praise and worship through the power of the love that fills them. God’s desire is that on this sinful earth, likewise, His love should take possession of the hearts of men.

And how was this accomplished? By sending Christ, the Son of His love, to earth to reveal as Man the love of the Father, and win our hearts to Himself. The Lord Jesus became man and made Himself of no reputation. In His dealing with the poor and needy, and those who were unbelieving and rebellious, and through His miracles, He poured out His love into the hearts of sinful men.

With the same purpose our Lord chose the disciples to be always with Him, and to be filled with His love. With this purpose He gave on the cross the greatest proof of love that the world has ever seen. He took our sins upon Him; He bore the suffering, and the scorn of His enemies, that friend and foe alike might know God’s eternal love.

And then, after He had ascended to heaven, HE GAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, TO SHED ABROAD THIS LOVE IN OUR HEARTS. The disciples, impelled by the love of Christ, in turn offered their lives to make it known to others,

O Christians, think this over: God longs to have our hearts wholly filled with His love. Then He will be able to use us as channels for this love to flow out to our fellow-men. Let us say with the Apostle Paul: "The love of Christ constraineth me: (Dutch Version ”“ ‘urges’). I can be satisfied with nothing less. I will sacrifice everything to secure a place for this great love in the hearts of the children of men.

FIFTH DAY

THE LOVE OF THE SPIRIT

"The love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Ghost, which was given unto us.” ”“ Rom. 5:5.

How many a Christian must confess all his life long that he knows very little of a fervent childlike love to his Heavenly Father! He realises, too, that he cannot keep Christ’s second great commandment, to love his neighbour as himself. The thought of this lack of a joyful love to the Lord Jesus, or of a continual love to the brethren is so great a source of shame and sorrow.

What is the cause of this failure? Has the Heavenly Father made no provision for His children on earth, enabling them to prove their love to Him and to each other? Certainly He has. But God’s children have not learnt the lesson, that there must be a constant renewal of faith in what God is able to do. One tries to stir up love towards God in one’s heart, yet is conscious all the time that in one’s own strength one cannot awaken the slightest love to God. O Christian, believe that the love of God will work in your heart as a vital power, to enable you to love God and to love the brethren. Cease to expect the least love in yourself. Believe in the power of God’s love, resting on you, and abiding in you; teaching you to love God, and the brethren, with His own love.

Learn the lesson of our text: "The love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts, through the Holy Ghost.” The Spirit will enable us to love God, and our brethren, and even our enemies. Be assured of two things. First, that in your own strength you cannot love God, and the brethren. And second, that the Holy Spirit is within you every day and every hour, seeking to fill you with the Spirit of love. Each morning, as you commit yourself into the keeping of the Holy Spirit for the day, let this prayer arise: Grant me the assurance that Thou wilt pour forth the love of Christ into my own heart, and let it stream forth to all around me!

SIXTH DAY

THE POWER OF LOVE

"We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” ”“ Rom. 8:37

In days of unrest and strong racial feeling, we need above all a new discovery, and a living experience, of the love of God. Let us anchor our hope in the thought, "God is Love.” God’s power, by which He rules and guides the world, is the power of an undying, persistent love. He works through the hearts and spirits, and wills of men and women, wholly yielded to Him and His service; and He waits for them to open their hearts to Him in love, and then, full of courage, to become witnesses for Him.

When this has been achieved, Christ’s kingdom is manifested, and His reign of love on earth begun. Christ died in order to establish His kingdom. The only means He used to gain influence was through the manifestation of a great serving, suffering Love. He saw the possibility of redemption in the hearts of even the worst of men. He knew that men’s hearts could never resist the steady, continuous influence of love; and that unbounded faith in God’s love would be our strength and stay. It was in the fire and the fervour of that love that the disciples were able to expect, and to do, the impossible.

The spirit of hatred and bitterness can never be overcome by argument, or by reproaches. Some think things can never be different, but if we really believe in the omnipotence of God’s love, we may not distrust His power. God’s children must learn to accept His love, not only for themselves individually, but for the life of others. Gradually better feelings will prevail, if believers will yield themselves unreservedly, for God to work through them. Our faith in Love, as the greatest power in the world, should prepare us for a life in communion with God in prayer, and for a life of unselfish service amongst our fellow-men. Let each Christian examine his life, and pray for grace, as a servant of that all-powerful Love, to live for those around him.

SEVENTH DAY

THE SIGN OF A TRUE CHURCH

"By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” ”“ John 13:35

We are taught in most of our creeds that the true church is to be found where God’s Word is rightly preached, and the holy sacraments dispensed, as instituted by Christ. Christ Himself took a much broader view. Not merely what the church teaches through her ministers, was to Him, the distinguishing mark of His followers, but a life lived in love to the brethren.

It is most important that we should understand this. In God, love reaches its highest point, and is the culmination of His glory. In the man Christ Jesus on the cross love is at its highest. We owe everything to this love. Love is the power that moved Christ to die for us. In love, God highly exalted Him as Lord and Christ. Love is the power that broke our hearts, and love is the power that heals them. Love is the power through which Christ dwells in us, and works in us. Love can change my whole nature, and enable me to surrender all to God. It gives me strength to live a holy, joyous life, full of blessings to others. Every Christian should show forth, as in a mirror, the love of God.

Alas, how seldom do Christians realize this! They seek, in the power of human love, to love Christ and the brethren. And then they fail. They are sure it is impossible to lead such a life, and they do not even greatly desire it, or pray for it. They do not understand that we may and can love, with GOD’S OWN LOVE, which is poured unto our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Oh, that this great truth might possess us: THE LOVE OF GOD IS SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. If we fully believe that the Holy Spirit, dwelling within us, will maintain this heavenly love from hour to hour, we shall be able to understand the word of Christ: "All things are possible to him that believeth,” and to love God and Christ with all our hearts; and, what is even harder, to love our brethren, and even our enemies, while love flows from us as a stream of living water, "through the Holy Spirit.”