Dear Church of the Open Bible,
As a dad of three boys, I get to instruct them about what it means to be a part of a family. Don’t worry, I didn’t forget that I have a daughter; it’s just that this is a bit more intuitive to her.
To be a part of a family is to have a particular kind of relationship in commitment and depth with each other. But I need to go further than telling my boys what that means. I need to show them. I need to practice it in front of them, because it’s not merely theory, it’s embodied. Most of all, I need to show them that being a part of a family is good because it is God’s good design and it glorifies Him.
The same goes for being a member of God’s family. When we trust in Jesus, we join God’s family. But God’s good design for us in this is not merely theoretical. It is to experience His family “in the flesh,” in relationship with one another. One way we can see this is in the NT commands regarding how we should treat “one another” or fellow believers.
Love One Another - Jn 13:34-35; 15:12, 17; Rom 12:10; 13:8; 1 Thess 3:12; 4:9-10; 1 Pet 1:22; 4:8; 1 Jn 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11-12; 2 Jn 1:5
Greet One Another - Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20; 2 Cor 13:12; 1 Pet 5:14
Encourage One Another - 1 Thess 4:18; 5:11; Heb 10:25
Serve One Another - Jn 13:14; Gal 5:13; 1 Pet 4:10
Do Not Speak Against One Another - James 4:11; 5:9
Live in Harmony With One Another - Rom 12:16; 15:5
Forgive One Another - Eph 4:32; Col 3:13
Bear With One Another - Eph 4:2-3; Col 3:13
Speak the Truth to One Another - Eph 4:25; Col 3:9
Welcome One Another - Rom 15:7
Honor One Another - Rom 12:10
Show Hospitality to One Another - 1 Pet 4:9
Have Fellowship With One Another - 1 Jn 1:7
Agree With One Another - 2 Cor 13:11
Be at Peace With One Another - Mark 9:50
Be Kind to One Another - Eph 4:32
Bear the Burdens of One Another - Gal 6:2
Comfort One Another - 2 Cor 13:11
Care for One Another - 1 Cor 12:25
Pray for One Another - James 5:16
Build Up One Another - 1 Thess 5:11
Exhort One Another - Heb 3:13
Instruct One Another - Rom 15:14
Teach & Admonish One Another - Col 3:16
Sing With One Another - Eph 5:19
Stir Up Love & Good Works in One Another - Heb 10:24
Do Good to One Another - 1 Thess 5:15
Wait for One Another - 1 Cor 11:33
Be Humble Toward One Another - 1 Pet 5:5
Submit to One Another - Eph 5:21
Do Not Judge One Another - Rom 14:13
Do Not Provoke One Another - Gal 5:26
Do Not Envy One Another - Gal 5:26
Confess Sins to One Another - James 5:16
That’s a lot, but allow me two quick observations. Firstly, this list describes a type of relationship that is deep and personal. It speaks of a commitment to one another that goes far past being acquainted with others. Secondly, this list requires a type of relationship that is physically present. We cannot obey these commands from a distance only online, or even in 90 minutes once a week on Sunday mornings. We need to invite others into our everyday lives to live these out.
Do you have any relationships in God’s family, where you can live out God’s good design like we see here? If you don’t, we want to provide opportunities to experience His grace in committed relationship with one another. Don’t settle by staying on the periphery. Join us!
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
In Christ,
Pastor Jeremy