BSM 17/01/11One Anothering: Love One Another
I do not know if you have ever noticed this, but when Christians who have not met before get together, there is often an instant oneness. On one such occasion, Sarah said to me, “It was like we’ve known them for ages.” This is how it should be for believers because we are all one in Christ. Everything seems so natural when we share in this oneness.
This simple illustration of oneness reminds us that in diversity, there is unity. We may come from different towns, have different personalities and I am sure there are plenty of other differences, but through it, there is an underlying awareness that we have Jesus Christ in common. When Jesus Christ is the common denominator, we can indeed be one in Him.
In a Church community made up of so many different people, how is it possible to maintain a fellowship that is indeed one in Christ? Problems and divisions can so easily arise due to our differences, so what can we do? We find the answers we are looking for in the Bible. Throughout the New Testament, there are verses that include the words “one another.” Over the coming weeks, we will look at some verses that encourage us to take our eyes off self and our sense of importance and look at others through the eyes of Christ. In this way, our actions will reflect those of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A number of years ago I read a book entitled, “The Lasko Interview.” The author of this book, Clay Jacobson, is a Christian. On the blurb, it says these words. “This is a why-, how-, and who-dunit for everyone who sees the world from a Christian point of view, but still appreciates a classic, hard-boiled, heart-pounding mystery.” Straightaway, you may be thinking to yourself this is not a book for a Christian to read and enjoy. After all, it does not come under the theological banner. Well, it may not come under the theological banner, but it certainly does contain some wonderful Christian principles. These principles are based upon “one anothering.”
I want to share this paragraph with you from the book. I quote, “I’m not called to ‘one another’ everybody. I’m called to love the person God has placed before me. I’m called to love – one at a time. I’m called to serve – one at a time. You get the picture? When this finally sank in, I felt so free. The burden that I had been under lifted. I’m still learning what this all means in my daily walk, but I now look ahead with great expectation to see who God places in front of me to ‘one another.’ End of quote.
Too often, we crumple under the weight of false expectations. Because we are too busy, trying to love every person in this world, we sometimes fail to love the person God has placed before us. We are caught up in the big picture stuff instead of taking note of the needs, and responding to these needs, of those in our immediate vicinity. It all gets back to the elephant. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. When overwhelmed by a massive task, it is far easier to shrink away from it rather than simply tackle it bit by bit. But I believe Jesus does not want us to shrink away from the task ahead of us. Filled with the Spirit’s power, Jesus enables us to work at the task bit by bit.
I was fortunate enough to meet Clay ten or so years ago when he was at a book signing at Word Bookstore. In his personal message to me, he wrote, “Keep on “one anothering.” How wonderful it would be if I had followed his simple instruction to the letter. Four words can make so much difference when acted upon with the right motives. Sadly, I have often neglected the “one anothering” principle and instead chosen to ignore the needs of others. Nowhere in the New Testament does it say, “Be selfish to one another.” Yet this is something I have done and can very easily do. This is why it is so important for us today to remind ourselves of some of these “one anothering” principles so that we can in turn make a positive statement as God’s people today The world looks at Christians and puts us under the microscope. The world loves to see Christians at war with each other. I wonder how much notice they would take if Christians continually began “one anothering.” In time, I think they would have to sit up and take notice.
Of course, you will not find the term “one anothering” in any dictionary. However, throughout the New Testament there are over one hundred and fifty references to one another. Given the length of the New Testament, this is a large number of references. When you type in one anothering on the computer, the spell check immediately underlines the word “anothering,” and wants me to choose another word that does not interest me.
This is how R. Cody Smith defines “one anothering.” To fulfil New Testament Biblical instructions for Christians regarding activities to be done to, for and with one another.
In “The Lasko Interview,” there are seventeen areas of “one anothering” mentioned. Over the coming weeks, we are going to tackle each of these and my prayer is that either we will continue “one anothering,” or we will begin to. I will be honest with you here; we cannot choose the areas of “one anothering” that interest us. We cannot do some and not others. Either we embrace all areas of “one anothering,” or we fail to live how Jesus wants us to live.
At the end of this series, I will also make sure each of us has a copy of these “one anothering” principles, along with the Scripture references. In this way, we can refresh our memory every day as we look through this list and seek God’s help to enact these “one anothering” principles. Let me say here that although some of these “one anothering” principles may seem to be only for the Church of God, they are also a way of reaching out to our community and “one anothering” them. “One anothering has the potential to become a very powerful ministry tool. After all, this is what God asks of us and in obedience to Him we choose to follow Him.
You may already have an idea what the first “one anothering” principle might be. If you said, “Love one another,”you would be correct.
Of the seventeen principles we will look at, this is the only one mentioned by Jesus. Paul and Peter, and to a lesser extent James, are the other ones who love to write about one anothering.
John captures Jesus’ words in chapter thirteen and verses thirty-four and thirty-five of his Gospel.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
From these verses, we notice it is a new command to love one another. We also see that Jesus has set an example of love. Finally, because of our actions, people will know we follow Jesus if we love one another.
This idea of loving one another was not so much a new commandment issued by Jesus, but a new way of acting out an old commandment. Right back in Leviticus we see the command to “love your neighbour as yourself.” Jesus also taught this commandment in the parable of the Good Samaritan, and took it a step further in His sermon on the mount when He told His listeners to “Love your enemies.”
The catch to the new command Jesus gives is found in these words. “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” The new commandment was that we should love one another as Jesus loves us. Jesus’ whole life was a life of service. He gave Himself completely to His disciples and to the ever present crowds of needy people thronging round Him. Later, He did not shrink from one of the most painful deaths devised by man so that we might live. Jesus’ attitude was one of humility, of a servant serving the people He came to save.
These words bear repeating. “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” The new commandment was that we should love one another as Jesus loves us. Jesus’ whole life was a life of service. He gave Himself completely to His disciples and to the ever present crowds of needy people thronging round Him. Later, He did not shrink from one of the most painful deaths devised by man so that we might live. Jesus’ attitude was one of humility, of a servant serving the people He came to save.
Here is the challenge. Do we love our fellow Christians like that?
I just want us to pause for a few moments as we allow this question to sink into our hearts. Right now, allow the Holy Spirit to search our hearts, repent of any wrong attitudes or actions that He shows us and ask Jesus to fill us afresh with His love. In the silence, listen for God’s voice.
As John wrote in his first letter, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
It is easy to say we love someone, and not show him or her love. Words are cheap and stand for nothing unless we act out of or in love. The old saying, actions speak louder than words certainly apply to this situation.
Jesus set us a wonderful example on how to love. He backed up His words by His actions, which ultimately led to His death on the cross for our sins. How do we know Jesus loves us? He stretched out His arms and died. This is how much Jesus loves us.
However, love does not end with Jesus. Because Jesus loves us, He commands us to love one another. This is non-negotiable. Notice what Jesus says. “You must love one another.” There is no escape; we must love one another.
As a result of this love for one another in the body of Christ, the world will sit up and take note of this love and recognise us as disciples of Jesus. However, here is the question. Does the world recognise us as disciples of Jesus, or simply as Churchgoers? I firmly believe there is a big difference between the two. Although disciples of Jesus are part of the Church of God, it is not always clear to the world that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and Lord. I sense most people in the world would view Churchgoers as members of a club, and not as disciples of Jesus Christ. Yet it is possible to be recognised as disciples of Jesus when we love one another. If Jesus has said it is possible, then it really is possible.
Sadly, the world prefers to hear about the lack of love Christians have for one another. A juicy Church split or arguments between denominations areso much more preferred. How do we overcome this problem? We overcome it by simply following the new command Jesus gave – “Love one another.” It really is so simple, and yet we seem to have made it so hard. We need to get back to basics. We need to understand afresh the love Jesus has for us. When we immerse ourselves in His love, we can then truly love one another. Jesus does not issue an impossible command. It is possible to obey His commandbecause He gives to us the Holy Spirit to enable us to do so. Left to our own devices, we would definitely struggle to love one another. I firmly believe the Holy Spirit is able to fill us every day to help us walk with Jesus. For this to occur, we must invite the Spirit to fill us every day. I am amazed at how many Christians think once filled always filled. As Billy Graham once said, “I leak.” Is it any wonder we need to Holy Spirit to keep on filling us every day?
Friends, today is the day to commit ourselves afresh to “one anothering.” I hope you will join me on this journey as we begin to allow the Spirit to transform us from the inside out. It is no surprise we begin our journey of “one anothering” with love, because without love every other part of “one anothering” would be flawed.
I have wanted to preach on “one anothering” for many years, but the time was never right. Now, the time is right as we choose to live for Jesus through the power of the Spirit.