Strength 6 – Brotherly Kindness (7 Divine Strengths That Makes Us)

II Peter 1v7 “And to godliness brotherly kindness” Brotherly Kindness: - The practice of being or the capability to be sympathetic and mpassionate as to a brother. - An act that shows consideration and caring to a brother - Sympathy, helpfulness, humanity. As we have discovered that godliness is a nature or character that portrays holiness, righteousness, or godlikeness. This character if not well practiced through the Spirit of God can be counterfeited. When it is counterfeited it produces traces of snobbishness, self-righteousness, and superiority complexity. It is a character that can be manipulated by one self by being bias toward others and even their opinions. It is also a trait that one can use for selfish advancement. The Spirit of God cannot justify (approve or warrant) godliness of such nature because it has no elements of being sympathetic, caring, helpful etc. Since that godliness can be misused, manipulated or twisted in its use, it needs a base formula. For the lack of a better word, it needs a character stabilizer so that it might be approved or justified by the Spirit of God. The only characteristic trait that can counteract biasness, self-righteousness, superiority complexities, is a character that is sympathetic, caring and compassionate, and this is summed up in one word – brotherly kindness. In other words godliness must have the basis of brotherly kindness to complete its true functionality and receive justification from the Spirit of God. It calls that you add brotherly kindness to godliness. The character of brotherly kindness played a significant and most important role in the salvation of mankind. To strengthen the above statement let us look at some facts within the character of Jesus Christ in his human nature. As we look again at 1Timothy 3v16[KJV] “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh,” In Hebrews 2v11b[KJV] “…for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren” Then again in the same chapter of Hebrews 2 verse 17 it says “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,” Now the word that also caught my attention in the scripture is the word behoved. This word is also behoove, and it means: to be right and proper or appropriate for somebody. Now for Jesus to have forgiven and to forgive every sin even before people are born, the demand for his godliness and the pressure that was laid upon Him to take such a overwhelming decision, required that he should not be ashamed to be called the brother of a thieve, a murderer, a prostitute, a liar, a backsliding brother or sister, whatever condition any persons life might be in. Even whatever nationality he/she is, His high esteemed godliness required from him that he be unashamed, be sympathetic, caring, and compassionate to SAVE shamed stricken, mankind from the gutter most sludge, trodden and condemned, and bring us to the uttermost precinct of his grandeur and glory. That characteristic is called BROTHERLY KINDNESS my friend. Unbiased, if you are a holy roller. The standard of love that he did set for himself for the salvation of us all, coupled with brotherly kindness behoved him – (made him the right and appropriate) perfect deliverer. My interpretation of this verse would be like this, “In the total sum and purpose of his coming into this world to save us from sin and death, He found it right and proper or appropriate to be made like unto us (his brethren), so that he might show forth kindness (mercy) and truthfulness (faithfulness) as without any biasness to be the ultimate sacrifice and the high priest according to the sacrificial requirements set by God”. What about us? Have we become to holy and righteous to be called the brother or sister, cousin of someone that is laying on a dying bed strapped with a killer virus? Do we just turn our heads on a young girl or women that sells her body because she wants to make an ends meet. Have you become so obsessed with your achievements and non-desecrated self that you have forgotten that you yourself once in your life also never had, never knew, and never did a righteous work? Do the poor look like scum and the waste of gracious life in your eyes? Have we become to meticulous with our self prescribed righteous ways, that we’ll be ashamed should society know that we have family members, friends or loved ones that are found in these circumstances. I am not saying that we should let down our guard of honour and embrace these circumstances, what I want to say is that we should hate the circumstance so much that we will show love with brotherly kindness to the victims of these circumstances. Add to your godliness brotherly kindness, but also brotherly kindness can be practiced with partiality or seasonally (just for awhile) and only served to a particular group. So even still brotherly kindness needs a support structure and there can only be one, CHARITY or LOVE. Add to your brotherly kindness love It is impossible for brotherly kindness to function withouth charity.