practicing the “one anothers"

 

Rom 12:10 NKJV - [Be] kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another  Rom 12:16 NKJV - Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Rom 13:8 NKJV - Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Rom 15:5 NKJV - Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, Rom 15:7 NKJV - Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Gal 6:2 NKJV - Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Eph 4:2 NKJV - with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, Eph 4:32 NKJV - And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Eph 5:19 NKJV - speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, Eph 5:21 NKJV - submitting to one another in the fear of God. 1Th 4:18 NKJV - Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1Th 5:11 NKJV - Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. Hbr 3:13 NKJV - but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Jam 5:16 NKJV - Confess [your] trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 1Pe 3:8 NKJV - Finally, all [of you be] of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, [be] tenderhearted, [be] courteous; 1Pe 4:8 NKJV - And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." 1Pe 4:9 NKJV - [Be] hospitable to one another without grumbling.

I heard a message today on my way from work. Admittedly I didn’t engage in listening intently, but I was blessed by the parts I heard. One of those specific parts stuck out to me: practicing the “one anothers” from Scripture.

We are made to be in fellowship. We are made for interaction. Genesis 2:18 says “And the LORD God said, "[It is] not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." We were made to be WITH one another. If us being alone is “not good,” as scripture says, then when we are with one another, it is a good thing.

Looking further into the Genesis account, we read that God made us in His image. This would lead me to suggest that, when we are with one another, we are with a reflection of HIs image…or, at least, we should be.

The exhortation still stands: when we seclude, disengage, retreat, or back out from fellowship, we lose.

• We lose the ability to view true humility (Romans 12:16)
• We lose the chance to share love (Romans13:8)
• We lose out on how to relate to those around us (Romans 15:5)
• We lose the blessing of helping someone out in need (Galatians 6:2)
• We lose the harmony in singing mutual praise to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19)
• We lose submission (Ephesians 5:21)
• We lose comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:18, 5:11)
• We lose confession, prayer, and healing (James 5:16)
• We lose compassion (1 Peter 3:8)

Ultimately, we lose knowing more about our Lord and Savior. We lose learning more of who He is and the many beautiful facets of Him that we can’t see in ourselves.

Oh, but when we respond to His desire for us to be with one another, think of all the beautiful things we will gain….

Today, I am practicing the one anothers of the scriptures in the expectation of catching a glimpse…a part…a facet…of our Lord in another person…and praying that they would see Him in me as well.

Will you join me?