October 20 – Why Do We Not Love As Brethren?

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“See that you do not become troubled along the way.” Genesis 45:24

Joseph, having shown himself fully reconciled to his brethren, dismisses them with this needful caution, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.” He knew that they were but too apt to be quarrelsome. One might say, “It was you that first upbraided him with his dreams.” Another might say, “It was you that said, ‘Let us kill him.'”  Another, “It was you that stripped him of his coat.” Another, “It was you that threw him into the pit.” And yet another, “It was you that sold him to the Ishmaelites.” Thus their journey to their father’s house would be very uncomfortable if this spirit of quarreling and upbraiding once got possession of them.

Fellow-Christians, what a lesson this is for us! What does our Lord Jesus say to us? “Love one another.”

Are we not all brethren?
Have we not all one Father?
Are we not all subjects of free and sovereign grace?
Are we not agreed in essential points?
Are we not all sinners by nature and practice?
Have we not all one object of faith?
Are we not all traveling the same road?

Why, then, should we fall out by the way? The best and most enlightened see but in part, “through a glass darkly.” Suppose we be of different denominations; yet holding the same Head, why cannot we love as brethren? Suppose our way should part a little as to externals; yet all setting out from the same spiritual Egypt, all under the same Leader, why may not we all hope to meet at last in the true Canaan? If Christ is our center, all believers will be within our circle.

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

 | Hope for Today Archive | Sign Up for Our Resources | 

“See that you do not become troubled along the way.” Genesis 45:24

Joseph, having shown himself fully reconciled to his brethren, dismisses them with this needful caution, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.” He knew that they were but too apt to be quarrelsome. One might say, “It was you that first upbraided him with his dreams.” Another might say, “It was you that said, ‘Let us kill him.'”  Another, “It was you that stripped him of his coat.” Another, “It was you that threw him into the pit.” And yet another, “It was you that sold him to the Ishmaelites.” Thus their journey to their father’s house would be very uncomfortable if this spirit of quarreling and upbraiding once got possession of them.

Fellow-Christians, what a lesson this is for us! What does our Lord Jesus say to us? “Love one another.”

Are we not all brethren?
Have we not all one Father?
Are we not all subjects of free and sovereign grace?
Are we not agreed in essential points?
Are we not all sinners by nature and practice?
Have we not all one object of faith?
Are we not all traveling the same road?

Why, then, should we fall out by the way? The best and most enlightened see but in part, “through a glass darkly.” Suppose we be of different denominations; yet holding the same Head, why cannot we love as brethren? Suppose our way should part a little as to externals; yet all setting out from the same spiritual Egypt, all under the same Leader, why may not we all hope to meet at last in the true Canaan? If Christ is our center, all believers will be within our circle.

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)