The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

Yesterday we thought about Christ’s amazing love for us and then the opportunity and responsibility we have to love one another. Let’s think just a little more about this today.

“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us…” (1 John 3:1).

The Apostle John encourages his readers to cherish the tremendous love of the Lord. He proclaims, “What manner of love the Father has for us.” The word “manner” is potapos and gives the idea of “what sort?” or “what quality?” To what can you compare the love that Jesus Christ has for you? How can you begin to describe it? If you are anything like me, His love is indescribably wonderful, and we rejoice to be the recipients of such grace. “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!”

For today: If you know the Lord Jesus, be watching for the many ways today that He reminds you of His love!

One last day on the “one another” passages of the Bible. I am coming back to a reminder that we have already thought about. The Lord Jesus spoke about the importance of our loving each other (John 13:34; 15:12). John never forgot those words. Let’s close out this little series with John’s reminder to love one another.

“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 John 3:11).
“And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as He gave us commandment” (1 John 3:23).
“Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1 John 4:7).
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:11-12).

There is no other way for me to word this.
There is no other way for me to better explain this.
There is no other way for me to apply this.

The Lord loves us. With His help and strength, we must love one another.

For today: How will the love of Christ flowing through your attitude and actions be seen today? I am challenged by my own question!

We have two more days of checking out a few of the “one another” passages in the Bible. We come today to number nine. May the Lord bless you today.

Day one- Love one another (John 13:34; 15:12).
Day two- Prefer one another (Romans 12:10).
Day three- Serve one another (Galatians 5:13).
Day four- Forbear and Forgive one another (Colossians 3:13).
Day five- Admonish one another (Colossians 3:16).
Day six- Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Day seven- Edify one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Day eight- Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13).
Day nine- Consider one another.

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24). I appreciate how the New King James Version translates this verse: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”

Being told to consider one another is a great reminder that I can get really busy in my own little world, limiting my focus on my immediate family and concerns and my own narrow scope of interests. There’s nothing wrong with the immediate focus and concern. But just stop and think about the needs, concerns, heartbreaks, profound sorrow, sense of loss, and anxieties of people all around you. Just behind the smile of those you meet is a person who has a past history, present situation, and eternal future either in Heaven or in Hell.

I need to ask the Lord to help me to be much more aware of those around me and “consider” or really see them as opportunities in which I can prayerfully, spiritually invest.

For today: I just cannot help but wonder who the Lord will cause to intersect with you today.

We’ve been on a journey of checking out several of the “one another” verses in the Bible. Welcome to day eight.

Day one- Love one another (John 13:34; 15:12).
Day two- Prefer one another (Romans 12:10).
Day three- Serve one another (Galatians 5:13).
Day four- Forbear and Forgive one another (Colossians 3:13).
Day five- Admonish one another (Colossians 3:16).
Day six- Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Day seven- Edify one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Day eight- Exhort one another.

Think about this verse. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).

This is not nagging. This is not shouting. This is not pushing our preferences. Rather, it is the response of the Godly believer who takes the steps to approach another, call him or her alongside, encouraging him or her to live obediently to the Word of God and even warning against sinful living.

You are responsible for how you exhort. You are not responsible for their response. You are responsible for exhorting about the clear application of God’s Word. You are not responsible for exhorting about your opinions.

For today: What a privilege we have to live for the Lord and to read and practice His Word!

Here comes day number seven of our brief “one another” devotionals from the Word of God. Thanks for stopping by each day. I thank the Lord for you.

Day one- Love one another (John 13:34; 15:12).
Day two- Prefer one another (Romans 12:10).
Day three- Serve one another (Galatians 5:13).
Day four- Forbear and Forgive one another (Colossians 3:13).
Day five- Admonish one another (Colossians 3:16).
Day six- Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Day seven- Edify one another.

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). What did the Apostle Paul mean when he wrote about edifying?

The word “edify” is a fascinating word. It is oikodomeo (oy-kod-em-EH-o) and it has the idea of building a house, erecting a building, restoring by rebuilding and repairing.

What a picture of the believer who intentionally seeks to edify or build others up. This is not a case of false flattery. It is rather the joy that comes when we are intentional and deliberate not to tear others down but seek to build others up or edify. What opportunities will present themselves for you to briefly share a verse of Scripture with someone today? What will be the situation in which you can speak a word of encouragement? How will you express appreciation today?

For today: Build up rather than tear down. That’s a good goal for each of us.