One Another
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Is the body of Christ an abstract concept to you?
We are not simply individuals; we are part of a group, a group that is to be characterized by loving interactions.
The Bible is loaded with instructions on how Christians should respond to each other. These “one another” statements form the framework for the body of Christ:
Love one another (John 13:34)
Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)
Live in harmony with one another. (Romans 12:16)
Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
Agree with one another (1 Corinthians 1:10)
Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21)
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another
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Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Offer hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
The body of Christ is a place of acceptance, service and love. It is a community full of compassion, encouragement and harmony; a group devoted to humility, forgiveness and unity.
How is such a community developed? One “one another” at a time.
Imagine the impact our lives would have if we focused on practicing a different “one another” each day or the same one for a whole week. What would happen if in the midst of an argument or an interaction with an irritating person, we paused to ask ourselves which “one another” we should be exercising at that moment?
I believe that not only would we be changed, but so would those around us. The body of Christ would be an attractive and transforming agent in our world.
God, I want to live how You have called me to live. Help me begin treating all believers with love, compassion and forgiveness. Show me how to humbly serve those around me.
Questions: Which “one another” do you need to exercise today? Why is God so concerned about how we treat one another?
About this Author: Suzanne Benner
Daily audio podcast: Hear today’s daily devotional One Another read aloud, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Amen to that, Susan! As the old hymn goes, ” . . . and, they will know that we are Christians by our love, by our love.” Our pastor did a powerful series last fall on “One another,” and it was a very beautiful, convicting word portrait of what we Christians are to be to each other! Thank you, Suzanne, for reminding us of God’s commandments to His children, to live peacefully, in love and truth!
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for helping us to choose God’s ways over our own! We praise You for Your limitless grace to meet the challenges of our lives, when prickly relationships provoke us and tempt us to sin! Forgive us, we pray, when our own nature overrides Your loving promptings, and we respond with evil for evil. Keep us mindful, Holy Spirit, of our calling to be dispensers of grace among the body of Christ, and to a watching world! In the precious name of Jesus, Amen!
Before I even responded on this blog, I felt an urge to share this with my own “others” list. There’s so much for me to learn about caring for others, but these verses are great reminders of just how much God wants us to put others ahead of ourselves, and that in loving and caring for others, we love and care for Him.
i belong to a wonderful church group and every one there is quick to help out anyone in need and is there when you need a sholder to cryon
I am really learning the meaning of this. I have to obey Christ. It says if I love God I will keep His commandments. I will treat others with love. This usually isn’t very hard for me to practice. But, it’s been very hard to do this at my job, lately. My coworkers have been arduously plotting against me and devising lies. In my hurt I have had to remember “one another” and still be a beacon for Christ. It’s easy to retaliate. It’s more rewarding to let go and pray for them.
Yes, this article touched my heart for sure. It is challenging however, when time and time again we seek reconciliation and it is blocked and rejected… It is hard to keep going back. I know the call is to go back and try again but I am wondering if the call is to sometimes just live with the disharmony… A disharmony I can’t fix on my own. It is a challenging article, thank you.