Human Brotherhood

I dare not speak of human brotherhood without speaking first of divine sonship. There is no meaning to the word “fraternal” until we have learned the meaning of “filial.” There is no meaning to brotherhood until we have been taught the meaning of fatherhood and sonship. If I said nothing else 406 but this one thing, and were able to say it in terms which would go home to your inmost being, that you are the sons of God, I would have done a great thing, because a man who has once learned that he is the son of God must forthwith accept all of his race as his brethren.

Look at the one spotless figure that stands out in the midst of history. Look at the Lord Christ and see how he began his work of public ministry. He identified himself with the human race and its weakness, but he saw that it was only in his divine sonship that he could fulfill a life of service, and at his baptism, before he went among men to preach and to teach about the Kingdom of God, he rose to the supreme consciousness of that sonship.

He heard his Father say: “Thou art my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” . . . God does not expect you to use any more faith than you have got, but he does expect you to use what you have.

It may be but a tiny spark, yet that spark must glow heavenward, Godward, in the filial relation. Upon that we base the fraternal.