I have been struck recently by how incredibly important community is, likely because of how great my needs have been this past year! But God created us for community, and in His great wisdom, He tells us just how we are to behave within these communities. I like to call these commandments the “One Anothers”. Being part of a community is a gift that does come with responsibility. As I have grown in His grace, the more I have experienced the power within these commands, particularly in the unexpected and sometimes unwelcome communities that I might find myself in.
The One Anothers
Love one another (John 13:34, 15:12, 15:17)
Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another (James 5:16)
Through love, serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
Encourage one another and build one another up (1 Thess 5:11)
Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
Be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving to one another (Eph 4:32)
Always seek good for one another (1 Thess 5:15)
Gently, patiently tolerate one another (Eph 4:2)
Greet one another with the kiss of love. (1 Peter 5:14)
There have been times in my life where I am most often the recipient of these “One Anothers”! So many have served me, prayed for me, encouraged me, shared my burden, and gently and patiently tolerated me when on steroids! But one thing God has most certainly taught me over the years is that I am never off the hook myself—I can always give back. No matter what I am going through, I can always choose from the list of “One Anothers” and encourage, be kind, build someone up, or pray for someone.
When I was very ill almost 12 years ago, I grew tired of talking, thinking and praying about myself. One day, while reading the book of Job, these words jumped off the page at me: “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes...” (Job 42:10) God was calling me to let go of my self-pity and constant self-care and to begin putting others first. It revolutionized my prayer life at the time to lift up everyone else first. It gave me such a sense of purpose, such a mission. Sometimes I would find myself so caught up in praying for others, that prayers for myself didn’t seem so urgent anymore. Often I completely forgot to pray for myself at all. Instead, I began to trust the community of believers to pray for me, just as they could trust me to lift their needs before the Lord. It was so healing, both inside and outside. God’s commands, especially all those “One Anothers”, might look like they’re to bless others, but when we obey them, we discover that they are a huge blessing in our own lives as well.
Thank you Father for meeting all our needs through Your Son, the living Word, and the fellowship of believers created in him. You have given us a blueprint for how to love each other, to bless and be blessed. Embolden us to serve, encourage, bear with, and forgive all those you have put in our lives, to the glory of Your holy name, Amen.
