PHILDELPHÍA (BROTHERLY AND/OR SISTERLY LOVE)

Now about brotherly love^G5360, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love^G25 one another.  

1 Thessalonians 4:9 (BSB)

G5360 – φιλαδελφία philadelphía – one who loves his brother. Brotherly love. In the NT, used of love of Christians one to another, brotherly love out of a common spiritual life (Rom. 12:10; 1 Thess. 4:9, Heb. 13:1, 1 Pet. 1:22, 2 Peter 1:7)

The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament, Spiros Zodhiates, Ed.

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12-13). “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (I John 3:18). Over and over, we are commanded to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are told to love sacrificially and with actions rather than just words. In I John 4:7-8 we are even told that “love is of God” and those who do not love, do not know God. There is no room for cliques and no allowance for loving only the lovely. We are commanded to love everyone who loves Christ, to love them like brothers and sisters. Showing love involves sacrificing our time. We can show love by meeting a physical or financial need, listening when a brother or sister is troubled, providing a ride to someone without transportation. We can show love by sitting in church with the person who seems to have no close friends. You may never know how your simple touch in someone’s life may affect many lives down the road. Find someone who needs love (they may even live in your house) and show it today.

Lord, help us to love and hold close our brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us to love the seemingly unlovable because we know You love them. Love through us when we don’t have the power to show love on our own. Help us to see needs and meet them in Your name. Thank You for loving us with the greatest love of all time and eternity