THE ONE ANOTHERS

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 SEPTEMBER 7, 2022





John 13:34-35

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
 
1 Peter 2:17

17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
 
Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

We need one another. In fact, the phrase “one another” is used 412 times in the New International Version of the bible. Listen to some of the “one anothers” from Scripture:

love one another,

encourage one another,

forgive one another,

serve one another,

confess to one another,

bless one another,

honor one another . . .

you get the point I am guessing.

One of realities of the Bible story is that early community of Jesus understood the strength of one another. This new faith family that had been empowered by the Holy Spirit, lived and acted as a new community, and the Lord blessed them. They gathered together daily, ate meals together, worshipped together, and cared for the practical needs of one another. This is what Jesus intended for His Faith Communities.

Would you agree that quite often the flurry of activity in our lives makes it difficult to connect with our “one anothers”? Let us acknowledge that the teaching of the Bible insists that we were never meant to do life alone, rather we were created to be in community. 

PRAYER

Jesus, who are my “one anothers”? Help me find connection and community where You have planted me. Help me to develop deep roots so that I can bear much fruit that brings Praise and honor to you. Amen

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