My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, grace and peace be multiplied unto you!
Have you ever stopped to wonder why we refer to one another as brother and sister in the family of God? Some may see it as simply a term of endearment or familiarity, but it goes much deeper than that. In fact, it is a biblical mandate that we are called to uphold in our daily lives as believers.
In 1 Timothy 5:1-2, the Apostle Paul writes, “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” This verse reminds us that as members of the body of Christ, we are called to treat one another with love and respect, as we would members of our own family.
Furthermore, in Matthew 12:50, Jesus Himself states, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” As we obey and follow Jesus, we become part of His family and are united together through our faith.
Calling one another brother and sister serves as a reminder that we are all equal in the eyes of God, regardless of our background, status, or ethnicity. We are all one body, and each one of us has a unique role to play. Romans 12:4-5 tells us, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
As Pentecostals, we have a deep sense of community and fellowship. We believe that we are not meant to walk alone in our faith journey, but rather to encourage and build up one another through prayer, worship, and the sharing of God’s Word. Calling each other brother and sister helps to reinforce this sense of unity and belonging within the body of Christ.
So my dear brothers and sisters, let us continue to uphold this biblical mandate of treating one another with love, respect, and brotherly/sisterly affection. May we be a shining example of the love of Christ to those around us, and may the world see that we are indeed one family in Him.