Tag Archives: one another

Let us love

 

Beloved let us love one another

 

I came across this story about the apostle John and I found it challenging for sure…

The church father, Jerome, said that when the apostle John was in his extreme old age, he was so weak that he had to be carried into the church meetings. At the end of the meeting he would be helped to his feet to give a word of exhortation to the church. Invariably, he would repeat, “Little children, let us love one another.” The disciples began to grow weary of the same words every time, and they finally asked him why he always said the same thing over and over. He replied, “Because it is the Lord’s commandment, and if this only is done, it is enough” (cited by John Stott, The Epistles of John [Eerdmans], p. 49).

I hear so much about focusing on one thing and John was so clear to what I am called to focus on.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – 1 John 4:7-11 ESV

I cannot imagine the steps John took from being one of the fiery ‘sons of thunder’ to the one who penned these words. He found a way, more and more each day, in discovering the amazing truth that God is love.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. – 1 John 4:16 ESV

That does not mean a mushy kind of love either. The Psalms reminds us of the power of that love.

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
who turns the rock into a pool of water,
the flint into a spring of water. – Psalm 114:7-8 ESV

How can I apply the power of love in my life today?

Somehow it must be tied into my faith for how often do I say I lack faith. I think the failure of walking in the kingdom of God lies there, somewhere. If I had more faith in the power of God, had higher expectations of His power in my life, then I would overcome the world.

It sure is one thing to say that God can do this or that, and it is quite another thing to believe it. When it comes to love, God will do something even more amazing than what we could ever hope for or imagine.

 

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We are meant for relationship

 

I learned another new word today – homothumadon.  It’s meaning is – with one mind, with one accord, with one passion.  It is found mostly in the book of Acts which is interesting based on my thoughts from yesterday. This word does express Christian community. It is made up of two words – one meaning to rushalong and the other in unison.

The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonise in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concertmaster, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ’s church. – Strong’s #3661

Homothumadon! God has made us in His image and likeness, which means we are meant for relationship. We therefore intentionally move through our discipleship cycle together, doing all things in partnership with God and one another.

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 15:5-6  ESV

One of the best ways of coming together is when we worship. It is through worship that we avoid the division that comes through secondary issues. God becomes our first priority. It keeps our eyes on the cross. It keeps us focused on our task which is to make disciple-making disciples. Our hope is in Jesus and Him alone. I am challenged again to stop looking at the church, thereby, turning my back on those who do not know Jesus.

 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,  and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
    and sing to your name.”

 And again it is said,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
    and let all the peoples extol him.”

 And again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse will come,
    even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. – Romans 15:8-13  ESV

I was amazed to find a gem of a verse right after the infamous verse thirteen.

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers,[a] that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. – Romans 15:14  ESV

This is the verse that challenges me to be a disciple making counselor.  In God’s Hands I minister the sanctifying Word into the lives of others. I can only do that when I myself am a recipient of the Spirit’s sanctifying work in myself. I ask people to follow me as I am following Him.

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