We need to love the brothers with the high purpose of nourishing them and helping them to be healed.

[jidong xiao]

在七节彼得接着说，“在敬虔上供应弟兄相爱，在弟兄相爱上供应爱。”我们已指出，在敬虔，彰显神上，需要供应弟兄相爱，就是弟兄的情爱。我们也看过，七节的“爱”字，原文在新约中用以指神圣的爱，就是神在祂性情上的所是。（约壹四8，16。）这种爱比弟兄相爱更高尚，比人的爱能力更强，度量更广。

在召会生活中，弟兄姊妹也许彼此相爱，但他们的爱也许相当肤浅。在他们的爱里，也许没有生命的供应，也没有能施医治的“抗生素”。这就是说，他们的爱缺少神圣的爱。但在彼得所说对弟兄的爱里，有另一种元素，这元素就是神圣的爱，这爱以智慧供应我们，使我们合式的爱弟兄。有时候我们愚昧的、以能惯坏别人的作法爱他们。我们没有智慧，以使他们能得着生命的供应并得滋养的作法爱他们。神的爱不但滋养人，也包含能施医治且豫防疾病的属灵抗生素。我们若以神圣的爱爱弟兄，就会将这样的抗生素注入他们里面。例如，你也许晓得弟兄有某种缺欠或软弱。你知道教导或改正不会帮助弟兄。这位弟兄需要人以高尚的爱爱他。你若以这种爱爱他，他就会得着生命的供应，以及能杀死他里面“病菌”的抗生素。在召会生活中，我们需要有辨识、不愚昧的彼此相爱。我们需要带着滋养弟兄并帮助他们得医治的崇高目的来爱他们。

In verse 7 Peter goes on to say, "And in godliness brotherly love, and in brotherly love Love." We have pointed out that in godliness, the expression of God, brotherly love, which is brotherly affection, needs to be supplied. We have also seen that the Greek word for "love" in verse 7 is agape, the word used in the New Testament for the divine love, which God is in His nature (1 John 4:8, 16). This kind of love is nobler than brotherly love, and it is stronger in ability and greater in capacity than human love. 

The brothers and sisters in the church life may love one another, but their love may be rather superficial. In their love there may be no life supply and no "antibiotic" to foster healing. This means that their love is lacking in agape. But in Peter's love for the brothers there is another element, and this element is the divine love, a love that supplies us with wisdom to love the brothers in a proper way. Sometimes we love others foolishly, in a way that can spoil them. We do not have the wisdom to love them in a way that will enable them to receive the life supply and be nourished. God's love is not only nourishing, but also contains a spiritual antibiotic that fosters healing and prevents illness. If we love the brothers with divine love, we shall infuse such an antibiotic into them. For example, you may realize that a brother has a certain shortage or weakness. You know that teaching or correction will not help the brother. This brother needs to be loved with a noble love. If you love him with this kind of love, he will receive the life supply and an antibiotic that can kill the "germs" within him. In the church life we need to love one another with discernment, not foolishly. We need to love the brothers with the high purpose of nourishing them and helping them to be healed.