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Friendship is mostly based on common interest and conceptions, while of a brother and sister in faith has a far deeper source: the love of God and His son.

We may indeed all be the children of God, but as people we often differ fundamentally; in the fellowship we may find it difficult to live with the characteristics of others. To love one’s brothers and sisters, is however, possible through the overcoming power of faith (1 John 5:4) “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Our faith, which overcomes the world, also overcomes that which would separate us from others, because it allows us to see in them those loved and chosen by God: “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him” (1 John 5:1).

When someone annoys us, we can take the easy way out by ignoring such a person in future avoiding him, but then we would be lacking love which is long suffering and friendly, is not easily provoked and thinks no evil (1 Corinthians 13:4-5), “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil”. This love is not distinguishing characteristic which we display when we feel like it; it comes from the heart (Romans 5:5) “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” That which lives in the heart cannot simply be discarded because it is part of our character.

Many a country is perhaps rich without being aware of it because of mineral wealth that has not yet been discovered. The love of God which has made us what we are, is our greatest and most valuable treasure; it is our, everlasting possession for it was shed abroad in our hearts on the day of our anointing of the Holy Sealing. When we value this treasure, we discover the riches of the love of God. Then it becomes essential for us to love God with all our heart and our neighbour as ourselves.