If our very existence is to be spent in loving God and one another (which Christ states very clearly), what does this look like. To me, it call be called one-anothering and this is the last blog on the subject which will include the rest of the scripture passages that I have selected.
Phil 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Paul tells us here to avoid doing anything with a spirit of opposition and by trying to impress others. This includes strife, envy, and vain-glory. The humility he speaks of includes bringing down our own pride and becoming able to perceive our own littleness and guilt. In other words, we are the clay and not the potter and our will is to be subservient to the will of our Heavenly Father. If we truly are to regard one another as more important than ourselves, we must be quick in observing our own defects and infirmities while at the same time making favorable allowances for the defects of others. We must esteem the good that is in them above that which is in ourselves. We must interest ourselves in the concerns of others - not as busy-bodies - but in Christian love and sympathy. We must rejoice in the prosperity of others as truly as in our own prosperity.
Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices
Lying makes us like Satan who is the father of lies and is a prime part of his image upon our souls. Lying naturally tends to destroy faith and friendship among mankind and is especially damaging to the body of Christ.
Col 3:12-13 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Those who are holy are the elect of God; and those who are the elect of God, and holy, are beloved -- beloved of God, and to be so of all men. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, out to conduct themselves in every thing as becomes them, and so as not to lose the credit of their holiness, nor the comfort of their being chosen and beloved. It becomes those who are holy towards God to be lowly and loving towards all men. Those who owe so much to mercy ought to be merciful to all who are proper objects of mercy. A courteous disposition becomes the elect of God; for the design of the gospel is not only to soften the minds of men, but to sweeten them, and to promote friendship among men as well as reconciliation with God. Humbleness of mind, in submission to those above us, and condescension to those below us is not optional. We must prudently bridle our own anger, and patiently bear the anger of others. We must also suffer long both the injuries of men and the rebukes of divine Providence. We have all of us something which needs to be borne with, and this is a good reason why we should bear with others in what is disagreeable to us. We need the same good turn from others which we are bound to show them.
The consideration that we are forgiven by Christ so many offences is a good reason why we should forgive others. It is an argument of the divinity of Christ that he had power on earth to forgive sins, and it is a branch of his example which we are obliged to follow, if we ourselves would be forgiven. Someone has said that we are more like Christ than any other time when we are in the process of forgiving others.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
The Word of God must move in with us, take up housekeeping with us, get inside our skin. When we breathe, we should be exhaling the words and thoughts from God's word. Many have the word of Christ dwelling in them, but it dwells in them but poorly; it has no mighty force and influence upon them. Without God's word dwelling within us, we have no hope for wisdom. The proper office of wisdom is to apply what we know to ourselves, for our own direction. Wisdom is to make us good Christians and enable us to conduct ourselves in every thing as becomes Wisdom's children. Our purpose for teaching should be a sharpening of ourselves as we quicken others and improve our knowledge by communicating it for their edification.
Singing of psalms is a gospel ordinance. However, when we sing psalms, we make no melody unless we sing with grace in our hearts, unless we are suitably affected with what we sing and go along in it with true devotion and understanding. All must be gone in the name of Christ.
1 Thess 3:12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;
1 Thess 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Comfort is the Greek word parakaleo and is translated as comfort here and as encourage in subsequent verses in I Thessolonians. It means to console one another, to call to ones side, and to come along side. This has the same thought as when Christ said that he must go away but he would send a comforter, the Holy Spirit to be with us. We are to come along side our fellow believers and comfort them as we are comforted by God.
1 Thess 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
This is the same Greek word translated as comfort above. To build up contains the thought of building a house from start to finish. Don't stop a part of the way through. Complete the building process with your fellow believer. Whatever they are experiencing, let them know that you will be there for them from beginning to end. This may require a lifetime commitment. Can we do any less knowing what Christ has done for us?
1 Thess 5:15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
The evil spoken of here is something harmful, bad, and wicked. We are to always to seek that which will benefit the other person. If our motive is a desire for appreciation and praise, we will be disappointed. If our motive is to serve for Jesus' sake, we will never be disappointed.
Heb 10:24-25 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
The act of stimulation should be thought of as sharpening alongside. Think of the verse in Proverbs that speaks about iron sharpening iron as men minister to one another. The love spoken of is agape love and the good deeds may be thought of deeds that are valuable, worthy, and fair. The assembling together indicates a Christian meeting for the purpose of worship. Church attendance is not optional for the true follower of Christ. The Holy Spirit will cause us to desire to be with other believers in the worship setting. You cannot one-another if you are by yourself. Fellowship with God must never become selfish. We must also fellowship with other Christians in the local assembly. It is interesting to note that the emphasis here is not on what a believer gets from the assembly, but rather on what he can contribute to the assembly. Faithfulness in church attendance encourages others and provokes them to love and good works. The same Greek word is used again here for encouraging. Includes exhortation and comfort in the context.
James 5:16a Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.
Confession of sins here is not speaking of a one way confession to an officer of the church. It is a mutual confession from one believer to another in both directions. It means to acknowledge openly, promise, and agree with the occurrence of the issue. Pray as it is used here is the Greek word, euchomai which means to pray earnestly to God. In Acts 27:29, it is translated wished. The sailors were in the midst of the storm and were afraid of shipwreck. They wished earnestly for daybreak in hopes that the storm would disappear with the daylight. Healing denotes the sense of being made whole, not just getting better.
1 Peter 4:9-10 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Being hospitable carries the connotation of being fond of having guests - so good to see you. How many times do you really feel that someone is being hospitable toward you? Isn't that a great feeling? We should exude hospitality to all men but especially to the brotherhood of faith. And we should not complain or murmur or mutter while pretending our hospitality. We should be using our spiritual gift(s) (charisma) in serving one another. Serving can mean many things but as Jesus said in Mark 10:45 that even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve. Can we, his joint heirs, do any less than serve? This looks like minister which would include attending to anything that may serve another's interests. It also includes relieving one's necessities, providing the things necessary to sustain life, and waiting upon. These can be spiritual, emotional, and physical needs.
The term steward could be defined as the manager of the household and was usually the person the head of the house or proprietor had intrusted with the management of his affairs which could include dealing out proper portions to each one. We have been intrusted with spiritual gifts sovereignly and we are to carry out the good works that God has set forth for us. Grace may be defined here as that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, and loveliness. Or God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
OK, there you have it. If I counted correctly, there are fourteen one-anothers in this blog and five or six in Part II. So if you do these twenty or so things, you will be the perfect Christian, right? Wrong. As our pastor said last week. It is not difficult to live the Christian life, it is impossible! What he meant was that in our own power, we are helpless. In God's power, we are able to be used as vessels of mercy whereby he works through us to accomplish his will. May this be our heart's desire and even more so as the day draws near.
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