Paul and other biblical writers provided a set of relationship instructions, often called the “one anothers” because they highlight the love and encouragement we should have for one another. These verses primarily focus not on feelings but on intentional pursuits and acts of love. Here’s a short version of what we find in Scripture:
- Love one another (John 13:34).
- Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10).
- Outdo one another in showing honor (Romans 12:10).
- Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16).
- Don’t put a stumbling block in the way of others (Romans 14:13).
- Accept one another (Romans 15:7).
- Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2).
- Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving of one another (Ephesians 4:32).
I could go on and on. But as you look at that list and evaluate your relationships, are you left feeling a bit defeated? I haven’t always been devoted to my friends. I haven’t always lived in harmony. I haven’t always been patient. In realizing this, my bubble of pride burst. But the Lord has been faithful in each of those relationships to humble me and teach me how to love better. We won’t always perfectly live out the one anothers, but we can grow. It’s a hard lesson, but one I’m thankful for.
Trillia Newbell is the author of Enjoy, Fear and Faith, and United. She is the director of community outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Excerpted from Enjoy by Trillia J. Newbell Copyright © 2016 Trillia J. Newbell. Excerpted by permission of Multnomah, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
