When "one another" means me…
I’ve written before about how every follower of Jesus Christ (including me) is responsible for carrying out the “one anothers” of Scripture. But, that is not the point of this blog post. I’ve also written previously about how our family tries to live daily in community with other brothers and sisters in Christ (see especially “Church meetings” and “A Week in the Life of the Church“). But, in this post, I want to highlight something a little different.
On Monday, in a comment to my post “The unhypocritical church – Part 3“, David said this concerning living in community: “But this kind of life doesn’t get much press time. I mean, who wants to read about someone living that kind of life? No glamour.” I understand exactly what David means. But, Paul recognized this kind of life, and with gratitude toward God, he praised those who were living that way.
And, in this post, I hope to do exactly the same thing. There are many people that I know who are taking the “one anothers” of Scripture seriously. In the last few days, many of these people have impacted my life and the life of my family. So, I want to take this time to thank God for these precious brothers and sisters.
1. Serve one another (Gal 5:13; 1 Pet 4:10)
Our van is having problems. One of our dear friends took our van to his house and is working on it – at his own expense. He will not even allow us to pay for the parts.
2. Be kind to one another (Eph 4:32)
This week, some friends showed up at our house unexpectedly with breakfast for our family.
3. Encourage one another (1 Thess 5:11; Heb 3:13)
A brother spoke very encouraging words to me during a time that could have greatly discouraged me.
4. Teaching and admonishing one another (Rom 15:14; Col 3:16)
At a time when we were focusing on distractions, a brother taught and admonished us that it was actually our sin that was hindering our relationship with God.
5. Care for one another (1 Cor 12:25; 2 Cor 13:11)
While our vehicle is being repaired, another family has graciously allowed us to use one of their vehicles.
6. Bear with one another (Eph 4:2; Col 3:13)
When I became defensive (or offensive) toward a brother, he patiently allowed me my rant, then did not hold it against me.
7. Love one another (John 13:34-35, 15:12, 15:17; Rom 12:10, 13:8; 1 Thess 3:12, 4:9; 1 Pet 1:22, 4:8; 1 John 3:11, 3:23, 4:7, 4:11-12; 2 John 1:5)
Do you want to know how our brothers and sisters have demonstrated their love for God and their love for us? Look at #1-#6 above. This is just a sampling.
Love for God and love for others is real, tangible, giving, serving, costly. This is the love that the Spirit produces in the lives of his children. This is one of the evidences that we are children of God: “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:10-11 ESV)
These brothers and sisters continually demonstrate the evidence that they are children of God – that they are indwelled by the present and powerful Holy Spirit – that they are submitting to his will in their lives. They are not doing this so that they will get recognition or credit. In fact, they will be embarrassed when they read this and recognize themselves in my words. They do these things because the love of God compels them. They do these things because God is more than a theological idea – He is a real, living, active, powerful, and ever present Father in their lives. It is evident that they are children of God because they practice righteousness and love their brothers and sisters.
I praise God for the way that He has loved me through these dear brothers and sisters.
Would you like to praise God for the brothers and sisters that he is using in your life?
Is there evidence in your life to indicate that you are a child of God?
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- The Assembling of the Church | When “one another” means me - [...] end of service than the giving end. A couple of years ago, I published a post called “When ‘one…
Awesome.
Here’s mine:
Confess your sins to one another. (James 5:16, I John 1:5-10)
A few times a week, I confess my sins to a group of brothers. Over the course of time, some of the things I’ve struggled with for my entire life have less hold over me. Praise God for them.
There’s a fuller treatment of this over at my blog, if you want to check it out.
what about submit?
Ephesians 5.21
David,
Thanks for sharing about confessing to one another.
Mike,
I was only trying to share a few examples. I could share some examples of submitting to one another. One in particular: I was talking to a sister recently, and she told me that she did not agree with me in some areas. However, she realized that submission is only truly submission when you do not agree with the person that you submit to. Needless to say, this sister is a great example of submitting to one another.
-Alan
At this time my wife and I are on the receiving end of the gracious love of God’s people. We had our 4th child last Friday, and the blessings we have been able to enjoy are tremendous.
It is so beautiful to have brothers and sisters sharing in our joy, bringing words of encouragement to us and words of praise and thanksgiving toward God. It may not sound like much, but not having to worry about “the small stuff”, like making dinner, because our brothers and (mainly) sisters are taking time out to do that for us…………….means so much. It truly causes me to love Christ more and encourages me to love His people more. I can’t wait to be a blessing to one of His!!
Jon
Alan-
I’ve been the recipient of several of the one-another’s in the past few weeks, particularly since I’ve had hand surgery.
My dear husband has submitted to my inabilities by spending time taking me to medical appointments and running the errands I usually run. He’s been washing dishes and doing household jobs that are not his responsibility otherwise. Cheerfully, in love, without complaint.
Other people have done everything from bring meals, to meal prep so I can cook, to cleaning and making beds…
The hardest thing for me is to submit to those whom God has prompted to serve me. I’m still working on that. And He’s still working on me. 🙂
Kat
Alan-
I’ve been the recipient of several of the one-another’s in the past few weeks, particularly since I’ve had hand surgery.
My dear husband has submitted to my inabilities by spending time taking me to medical appointments and running the errands I usually run. He’s been washing dishes and doing household jobs that are not his responsibility otherwise. Cheerfully, in love, without complaint.
Other people have done everything from bring meals, to meal prep so I can cook, to cleaning and making beds…
The hardest thing for me is to submit to those whom God has prompted to serve me. I’m still working on that. And He’s still working on me. 🙂
Kat
Alan-
I’ve been the recipient of several of the one-another’s in the past few weeks, particularly since I’ve had hand surgery.
My dear husband has submitted to my inabilities by spending time taking me to medical appointments and running the errands I usually run. He’s been washing dishes and doing household jobs that are not his responsibility otherwise. Cheerfully, in love, without complaint.
Other people have done everything from bring meals, to meal prep so I can cook, to cleaning and making beds…
The hardest thing for me is to submit to those whom God has prompted to serve me. I’m still working on that. And He’s still working on me. 🙂
Kat
Alan-
I’ve been the recipient of several of the one-another’s in the past few weeks, particularly since I’ve had hand surgery.
My dear husband has submitted to my inabilities by spending time taking me to medical appointments and running the errands I usually run. He’s been washing dishes and doing household jobs that are not his responsibility otherwise. Cheerfully, in love, without complaint.
Other people have done everything from bring meals, to meal prep so I can cook, to cleaning and making beds…
The hardest thing for me is to submit to those whom God has prompted to serve me. I’m still working on that. And He’s still working on me. 🙂
Kat
Alan-
I’ve been the recipient of several of the one-another’s in the past few weeks, particularly since I’ve had hand surgery.
My dear husband has submitted to my inabilities by spending time taking me to medical appointments and running the errands I usually run. He’s been washing dishes and doing household jobs that are not his responsibility otherwise. Cheerfully, in love, without complaint.
Other people have done everything from bring meals, to meal prep so I can cook, to cleaning and making beds…
The hardest thing for me is to submit to those whom God has prompted to serve me. I’m still working on that. And He’s still working on me. 🙂
Kat
Alan-
I’ve been the recipient of several of the one-another’s in the past few weeks, particularly since I’ve had hand surgery.
My dear husband has submitted to my inabilities by spending time taking me to medical appointments and running the errands I usually run. He’s been washing dishes and doing household jobs that are not his responsibility otherwise. Cheerfully, in love, without complaint.
Other people have done everything from bring meals, to meal prep so I can cook, to cleaning and making beds…
The hardest thing for me is to submit to those whom God has prompted to serve me. I’m still working on that. And He’s still working on me. 🙂
Kat
Alan-
I’ve been the recipient of several of the one-another’s in the past few weeks, particularly since I’ve had hand surgery.
My dear husband has submitted to my inabilities by spending time taking me to medical appointments and running the errands I usually run. He’s been washing dishes and doing household jobs that are not his responsibility otherwise. Cheerfully, in love, without complaint.
Other people have done everything from bring meals, to meal prep so I can cook, to cleaning and making beds…
The hardest thing for me is to submit to those whom God has prompted to serve me. I’m still working on that. And He’s still working on me. 🙂
Kat
Jon,
“It truly causes me to love Christ more and encourages me to love His people more.” It sounds like you are being spurred on toward love and good works (Heb 10:24-25).
Kat,
Sometimes, receiving is harder than giving. But, at times, both are necessary to maintain relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
-Alan
Here’s where I wrote about this and compiled nearly all of these. It is simply amazing to me how we seem to ignore these commands of scripture…
http://charisshalom.fjministries.com/2007/06/13/love-one-another-are-christians-on-loa/
I asked whether we were on LOA, leave of absence, with regard to such directives…