Dear Church of the Open Bible,
Repetition is a tool to get across what is important. We repeat what matters, what we want to stick or get through. And like a chisel on the marble of my mind, repetition has promoted progress, albeit slow progress, in my life. One word that is repeated 100 times in the New Testament is the word “one-another” (ἀλλήλων). A third of those commands deal with unity in the church. Another third of them deal with loving one another. And another seven deal with showing humility to other believers.
We don’t have time to look at more specifics, but surely even the mere repetition can instruct us. The life of the disciple is meant to be lived in community. And not just the community of living near others but living with others. Living close enough that we can speak the truth to one another, encourage one another, confess sins to one another, and forgive one another.
Is this a reality in your life? Are you close enough with others to be able to live out these commands? As scary as this may seem, God has built us to glorify Him in relationship, loving Him and loving others. Here at COB, we desire to humbly provide this for you. So if you have any questions of what that might look like, let us know and we’ll walk alongside you in that.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. - Ephesians 4:30–32