Fellowship is the encouragement and support of those closest to you, family and your brothers and sisters in Christ. Brotherly love is the encouragement and support of those closest to God, all of His creation, so that every person be given the chance to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and the opportunity to choose His redeeming agape love.
Fellowship and brotherly love should be as natural to us as walking, talking and breathing. Fellowship comes easily to us. Brotherly love is much harder to attain and requires completely relying on the Holy Spirit to love those different than ourselves. It is not a guideline to have fellowship and brotherly love, it is a command. May God help us to attain that which He commands!
The faithfulness of the Thessalonian church in persecution gave Paul reason to praise God. Satan persecutes Christians in order to discourage and defeat them. The Thessalonians’ steadfast faith not only strengthened them to withstand difficult circumstances, it also motivated them to express genuine love for others. A Christian’s faith in Christ should always culminate in true love for others.
2 Thessalonians 1:3-8
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and 1tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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