Grateful For Brethren

Ephesians 1:15,16  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

The apostle Paul at this point in his letter to the Ephesians, expresses his gratitude and love for the brethren.  After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus... So not only did Paul hear of their faith in Jesus Christ, but he saw the manifestation of that faith in the way they loved other believers. The saints at Ephesus had a genuine love for their fellow saints in other towns and in other churches. A love unto all the saints, blessed Paul's heart. Jesus taught this important principle in John 13:35, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." When believers love each other a great testimony is given to the lost. How sad it is today that there is so much discontent and lack of love among believers today. This is not to say that there will never be disagreement or even division, but it ought always to be done in a spirit of love and humility.  It is that love in hearts that also gives us an assurance of our salvation. 1 John 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Here at this church in Ephesus the saints had a genuine love for ALL the family of God. For this cause Paul took great joy and was moved with compassion and gratefulness as he saw God's children loving each other. I am grateful for the brethren all across America and even the world that I get to share in Christ's love with. The fellowship of brethren has been so refreshing to me over the years. Many times we will meet a Christian for the first time and feel like we've known each other for years. What a great blessing it is to have brothers and sisters in Christ who love each other and encourage each other with prayer. This love and spirit of being grateful for brethren is a maturing of our faith. In 2 Thessalonians 1:3 it says, "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;" Our love for our brethren is the evidence of growing faith. Paul then reminds them of his commitment to them in the fact that he prayed for them faithfully! Nothing can be more loving and more Christlike as when we intercede for a brother or sister in Christ. Are you grateful for your brethren? How much do you pray for them?  It is imperative that we that are Christ's express our love and gratitude to the brethren by ceasing not to give thanks for them, making mention of them in our prayers. Be grateful, be prayerful for the brethren!