“All the Brethren” (2 Tim 4:21)

“Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren”. (vs21)

The brethren are all involved in the gospel. It isn't one or two, or preachers and deacons only, but EVERY child of God loves the gospel, loves those born of God, and lives for the glory of Christ.

First, in many religions, the preacher is paid to serve God, and people think they've done enough to come and hear. In the gospel, however, the preacher is paid, but the people come to hear so they can LIVE the message, becoming involved themselves. My deacon wrote a poem and said, “God’s servants serve Him, OK? We don’t just observe, we partake.” True believers are involved, and we want to stir up this flame in the hearts of all, so that we can help each other in Christ's cause. Paul told Timothy to, “stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands”, so that we help others powerfully serve God (2 Tim 1:6). Paul is alone in prison, but he isn't alone in the gospel. He is loved, and he expresses his love for the Church, and the Church for her own.

I heard a great message this week on the new covenant family being higher and more devoted to each other than we are to our natural family. He quoted the Lord's words from the cross, “Woman, behold your son. Then He said to the disciple, Behold your mother”, so that familial relations are not as important as the NEW relation in the kingdom as equals in Christ, justified by the Spirit, and followers of the Lamb (John 19:26-27). Believers love the house of God more than their own house, even as Lot offered his daughters to spare the messengers of God, showing what he favored most. He said, “See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof”, for comfort (Gen 19:8).

Secondly, we are not a people who love Christ and don't love each other. We are all brothers. We have been commanded to feed his sheep, if we love Him, and we do express His electing love by choosing to lay down ourselves for the church. He said to Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these? He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed My lambs” (John 20:15). We are not soloist concerned with self only, but we are members, concerned with the Body as a whole, the Body of Christ.

Thirdly, don't be concerned about what you don't have and allow that to cloud your thinking. Receive what you do have. Paul was forsaken by all, even brothers, but he still had brothers to lean on. He said, “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me” (vs16-17). He continues, “Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren”, so that even though forsaken by many, he took comfort in the brethren he had (vs21).

Your family or circumstance may be small, your earthly prospects may be meager, but you and I have the family of devoted saints, the family of those that know God, and we're to give ourselves to this family and receive what this family gives. Paul didn't turn to ungodly men for comfort. He sought no psychiatrist or fleshly counsel. He received comfort from the sheep. He didn't grow sour on the church because some sinned against him, but he expresses the love of the church, builds up the church, and takes refuge among the usefulness of people who love Christ. He charged Timothy to bring his coat, his reading material, and his love. He said, “Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica – Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come – and the books, especially the parchments” (vs9-13). Paul uses Timothy, helps Timothy, and uses the family to help the house be filled.

Finally, we have the same Father, so we are brothers. We have the same acceptance, the same forgiveness, and the same right to power. Scripture says, “For you are all the sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:26-28). Neither of us brings anything to the table. We are all freely and graciously received, so we are gracious, Christ-loving people. Our Lord says, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt 10:8). You are a member of the only family that lasts eternally. Being included, you are a helper to someone else, even as you're helped by brothers in your need.