“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”
2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV)
On a recent mission trip to Uganda, I recalled the verse above from 2 Peter. I spent many days with a group of South Sudanese refugees, mostly young students living in Arua, Uganda, who had experienced trauma, hardship, upheaval, need, and disappointment. And yet, as I observed them daily, I was awestruck by their brotherly love for one another and for a group of strangers who had come to visit them, including me. The way they rejoiced, encouraged, looked out for, and celebrated with one another was ubiquitous. This reality, coupled with their honor of those of us who were visiting, exemplified the encouragement we find in Romans 12:10: “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (ESV).
In a world where social media sometimes fosters things that we would never say face to face, my trip reminded me how important it is as Christians to show brotherly love, not only to one another but also to strangers, in all circumstances. One of the Greek words for love, philia, refers to friendship and camaraderie. In the New Testament, this word is often translated as “friend,” one who is loved. It evokes a feeling of belonging and natural affection toward the greater community. It is the reason I witnessed responsibility, care, respect, and selflessness among my South Sudanese brothers and sisters, and love toward me, a stranger from across the globe. Brotherly affection is a powerful tool in the hands of Christians and a virtue that sometimes seems lost.
King David gave us a wonderful description of brotherly love when he declared, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalm 133:1, ESV). This is also a picture of what God requires of us in the church. What a blessing to see my new friends in Uganda wearing the First Presbyterian Church t-shirts I brought with me that had 1 John 4:19 on the back!
Later, 1 John 4:21 says: “And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must love also love his brother.” I am grateful for reminders that come from unexpected places and for the opportunity to show and receive brotherly love wherever God may lead!
by Trusha Barner, Director of Missions
