In the Holy Scriptures we read of how God went to great lengths to make for Himself a special people. Just as God has a great love for His own, we should strive to be imitators of Him when it comes to loving the precious flock of God. (Eph. 5:1, 2; I John 4:11)

At the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry we read of Him saying these words: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matt. 5:17, 18). Towards the very end of His earthly ministry we have recorded Him saying these words while hanging from the tree: “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Luke, the beloved physician, gives us insight into what Jesus meant when He said this: “Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me’” (Luke 24:44). Here we have the words of Jesus come to pass when He said in His prayer to God the Father, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4 Ref. Heb. 11:17-19). Therefore, when one of the soldiers pierced the side of Jesus’ mangled body, “and immediately blood and water came out” (John 19:34), this was the point at which Christ Jesus purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28). “[T]he precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,” (1 Pet. 1:19) was the purchase price for the church! All things considered, we ought to make sure we’re giving our all in our love for the brethren so that we can be able to say, as our beloved brother Paul did, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls” (2 Cor. 12:15).

The Pentecost preacher Peter wrote in his first epistle to the Dispersion saying, “…you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people [emp. LM], that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Pet. 2:9, 10). What a great word of encouragement this must’ve been seeing as they were undergoing suffering because of their faith. It would’ve been a great word of exhortation to them then, and it certainly is for us nowadays. Additionally, the evangelist Titus received a similar message by the penmanship of Paul who wrote to him saying, “Jesus Christ…gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people [emp. LM], zealous for good works” (Titus 2:13, 14). From these passages we learn that we are God’s special people. How wonderful it is to know that the God of heaven thinks of us in this way. The opening chapter of 1 Corinthians informs us that, “…not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things…the weak things…the base things…that no flesh should glory in His presence (1 Cor. 1:26-29). We aren’t special due to our own merits, but rather it’s because we’re “in Christ…a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17). Brethren, we’re God’s special people! Let us do everything in our power to show one another this and to put this on display to everyone around us who aren’t Christians (John 13:34, 35).

Throughout the Scriptures, we learn about how God’s people have always needed one another. It behooves us to be our brother’s keeper, “not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother” (1 John 3:12). The apostle Paul said it in this way: “there should be no schism in the body…the members should have the same care for one another” (1 Cor. 12:25). Are we fulfilling Jesus’ prayer for unity by the way we talk and act towards our brothers and sisters in Christ (John 17:20, 21)? If not, what’s hindering us? Do we place worldly company over spiritual company? “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Cor. 15:33). If we have the opportunity to gather with the saints on a day other than Sunday or Wednesday, but don’t take it, why don’t we? The early Christians have this written about them concerning their love for the brethren: “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people” (Acts 2:46, 47). It would do us well to imitate them in this pattern we have set before our eyes regarding the doctrine of Christian fellowship. 

In the New Testament, we learn of the Church of Christ being blood bought, being God’s special people, and being the group who sincerely demonstrates brotherly love toward one another. “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” (Rom. 14:19). In closing, I leave with you these words from David, the sweet psalmist of Israel: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is ​​For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, ​​Running down on the beard, ​​The beard of Aaron, ​​Running down on the edge of his garments. ​​It is like the dew of Hermon, ​​Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing— ​​Life forevermore (Ps. 133:1-3; Ref. Heb. 13:1).