HEART WORK EVIDENCE #3—LOVE FOR THE BRETHREN

Love for the brethren is another sure evidence of heart work being done in a Christian’s life. Paul reveals in the opening lines of his letter to the Romans that this love was at work in his own life as evidenced by two things: First, by the prayers that he prayed for them, and secondly by his desire for their fellowship. He wrote:  “without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you” (vv.  9b,10).

The prayer of believers for one another is simply a matter of heart-desire and heart-obedience to the Word of God. This means praying for others in general (1 Tim. 2:1), and for believers specifically. Paul said that he prayed “without ceasing,” that is, constantly, consistently and regularly for his brethren in Rome. Genuine love for the brethren is manifested by Christians who pray for brethren here at home and around the world — especially those experiencing persecution for their faith.

The second indicator of real, heart felt love for the brethren is seen in our desire to be around them. Paul expressed this desire when he told the saints in Rome that he was, “Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you” (vv.  9b,10). Believers prefer and covet the company of other believers far and away more than they  do the company of non-Christians. This too, is simply a matter of heart-desire and heart-obedience to the Word of God, and explains in great part, the admonition we have in Heb. 10:24, 25: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Love for the brethren, tops the list of “things that accompany salvation” (Heb. 6:9), and our prayers for, and desire to be with other Christians is a “love litmus test,” we should take now and then to determine how things are working in our hearts. See also: John 13:34; 1 Cor. 13:1-7; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 Pet. 1:22; Heb. 13:1).