Love One Another

Written by Laura Novotny

I am so excited to share this little devotional with you all! This one is special to us as it was written and shared by a very dear friend and sister in Christ! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Have you ever heard it said that you don't have to like someone to love them? Well, that may be true from a worldly point of view, but in the context of our church brethren, the fellow believers within our local church membership, God teaches us something different about this in his Word. We all know we are not always compatible in personality or interests with every single person in our local church family. However, we should be careful not to base our attitude toward anyone in our church body on false worldly premises. The Word of God teaches us how to overcome dislike with a sincere love for all our brethren, and it basically comes down to allowing the love generated by His Holy Spirit to dissolve the dislike that comes from our own natural spirit. He not only wants us to remember that every one of us are there only by God's grace, but that we are to esteem the other better than ourselves.

To borrow words from an old writing: We must be willing to show love to each person just where they are, with their chaff and grain together, and with a faithful hand, we must take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away.

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Think about it: What may come after basic dislike? Unkindness? Resentment? Avoidance? A healthy church body should never have these things. We are to start with love and practice love's actions, which is the charity that consists of kindness, forgiveness, and fellowship, just like Jesus has shown us. It is done by the renewing of our minds and hearts.

In our regenerated condition, we have the power to set aside what we dislike about our brethren, and to seek what good there is in them, while showing kindness and compassion toward them. It is hard to feel dislike for someone when you are truly concerned for their well-being and spiritual growth, and earnestly praying for them on a regular basis. Isn't that what Jesus does with us? He works with the good that He wants to create in us, and discards the unlovely part of us with his grace. Along with all of this comes a servant's heart toward one another.

Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Remember, faith must have kindness and charity added to it, in order for us to bear fruit and not to fall. God puts high value on charity, for it is the nourishing thing that flows through the church body which gives all other aspects of our faith its life.

This wonderful journey in our walk with the Lord is found in II Peter 1:5-11 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I heard an old saying one time, and it reminds me to seek to have a spirit of grace toward those that may seem unpleasant to be around: 'Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting some hard battle.'

The best way to teach someone to be loveable is just to love them. In John 15:12, Jesus said: This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

But Lord! How can I ever love everyone like you have loved me?

Two little girls were sitting playing with some kittens. One little girl said, “Someday, I am going to have a million kittens to love!” The other little girl laughed, and said, “Silly! How in the world are you going to love a million kittens?” Her little friend smiled wide and replied, “One at a time!”

To God Be the Glory

Posted by Goodies and the Gospel

Written by Laura Novotny