THE ONE ANOTHERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Sunday marked the midway point in our series Committed to Community. We are looking at ways to preserve, protect, and project a sense of “common unity,” something that’s proving rather uncommon in the world today.

Evidently it was more than a little concern for the fledgling church two thousand years ago. Guess that’s why there is so much attention in the Bible, particularly the New Testament, on how we relate to one another. That phrase, which is a singular word in Greek, shows up roughly one hundred times there. Right at half of those are clearly directed to the fellow followers of Jesus.

I shared this list as part of a guided meditation Sunday. Afterwards I got several requests for the list. So here it is. And it’s pretty daunting. Let me challenge us all to make a daily reading of these, followed by taking time to think, pray, and let the Spirit point us to areas we can and need to improve. There are a lot of “One Another’s” to pick from. So, pick one. Or two, or three or four or more. All I ask is that if it seems too appealing to you, steer clear of “admonish one another.” I’m pretty sure that some others might guide us to a more blissful shore.  And as I said Sunday, living this way is not easy, but it’s also not complicated. Here’s to pursuing progress over perfection. Grace over grumbling. And service over “serve us.” Good luck. Let’s get to work.

THE NEGATIVE COMMANDS (how not to treat one another)

• Do not lie to one another (Colossians 3:9)

• Stop passing judgment on one another (Romans 14:13)

• If you keep on biting and devouring each other...you'll be destroyed by each other (Galatians 5:15)

• Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:26)

• Do not slander one another (James 4:11)

• Don't grumble against each other (James 5:9)

THE POSITIVE COMMANDS

• Love one another (John 13:34; this command occurs at least 16 times)

• Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)

• Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)

• Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)

• Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

• Be likeminded towards one another (Romans 15:5)

• Accept one another (Romans 15:7)

• Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16)

• Greet one another (Romans 16:16)

• Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)

• Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)

• Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)

• Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)

• Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)

• Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25)

• Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)

• Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19)

• Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5)

• Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)

• Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4)

• Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13)

• Teach one another (Colossians 3:16)

• Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

• Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

• Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13)

• Stir up [provoke, stimulate] one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)

• Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)

• Employ the gifts that God has given us for the benefit of one another (1 Peter 4:10)

• Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (1 Peter 5:5)

• Pray for one another (James 5:16)

• Confess your faults to one another (James 5:16)