“A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” John 13:35
Jesus has given to us a new commandment, not a new suggestion. We are obligated, to Jesus, to love one another – – – unconditionally. Jesus said “as I have loved you,” and his love for you, and for me was and is unconditional. We could not earn the love of God as unbelievers, and as Christians we cannot earn God’s love.
The next major point in the above scripture is love being the sign of a disciple of Jesus Christ. All men shall know…..because we have love one to another. Conversely, without love we cannot prove that we are Disciples of Christ. “Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4-7-8.
This brings me to an implied conclusion, which is; we are obligated to one another because of love. “No man is an island,” John Donne; A popular quote and yet how often do we think that a solitary life is a good life. We need one another, and the scripture tells it best; “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25.
We need one another, and I want to show you how important this principle is to God.
Devote yourself to one another – Romans 12:10
Live in harmony with one another – Romans 12:6
Accept one another – Romans 15:7
Instruct one another – Romans 15:4
Greet one another – Romans 16:16
Agree with one another – 1 Corinthians 1:10
Have fellowship one with another – 1 John 1:7
Love one another with a pure heart – 1 Peter 1:22
Have compassion for one another – 1 Peter 3:8
Be hospitable to one another – 1 Peter 4:9
Minister your gifts to one another – 1 Peter 4:10
Be submissive (yield) to one another – 1 Peter 5:5
Do not speak evil of one another – James 4:11
Do not grumble against one another – James 5:9
Confess to one another – James 5:16
Comfort one another – 1 Thessalonians 4:18
Edify (build up) one another – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Lie not to one another – Colossians 3:9
Forebear (be patient) and forgive one another – Colossians 3:13
We are members one of another – Ephesians 4:25
Serve one another – Galatians 5:13
God is serious about his people acting like a body, moving as one, and living as one; after all we are the “body” of Christ. The foot cannot say that it is sufficient on its own. Neither can the hands, or the ears or the eyes exist without each other. (1 Corinthians 12:14-18)
Read for yourself, and see what “one another’s” you can find in scripture. I need you and you need me and together we can be all that God has called US to be as the body of Christ.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Rosita
