John 11:5

A LOVED FAMILY

‘Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.’

John 11:5

The characters of these three people seem to have been somewhat different. Of Martha, we are told that she was ‘careful aud troubled about many things,’ while Mary ‘sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.’ Of Lazarus, we are told nothing distinctive at all. Yet all these were loved by the Lord Jesus. They all belonged to His family, and He loved them all. Let us bear this in mind in forming our estimate of Christians.

I. There are varieties in character, and the grace of God does not cast all Christians into one and the same mould. Admitting fully that the foundations of Christian character are always the same, and that all God’s children repent, believe, are holy, prayerful, and Scripture-loving, we must make allowances for wide varieties in their temperaments and habits of mind.

II. We must not undervalue others because they are not exactly like ourselves. The flowers in a garden may differ widely, and yet the gardener feels interest in all. The children of a family may be curiously unlike one another, and yet the parents care for all. It is just so with the Church of Christ. There are degrees of grace and varieties of grace; but the least, the weakest, the feeblest disciples, are all loved by the Lord Jesus.

III. Do not, therefore, despise or undervalue a brother.