While reading Philip Yancey’s book Vanishing Grace, I ran across a list of statements made is Scripture which contain the words “one another.” Here is the list presented by Mr. Yancey:
- Love one another
- Forgive one another
- Pray for one another
- Bear one another’s burdens
- Be devoted to one another
- Regard one another as more important than yourself
- Do not speak against one another
- Do not judge one another
- Show tolerance for one another
- Be kind to one another
- Speak truth to one another
- Build up one another
- Comfort one another
- Care for one another
- Stimulate one another to love and good deeds.
He then goes on to ask the question:
I wonder how different the church would look to a watching world, not to mention how different history would look, if Christians everywhere followed that model.
This is a great question and one that we should take very seriously.
The point is not to beat ourselves up by our failures in implementing these “one anothers.” The point is that we should be seeking God to empower us to better live these out.
Rather than being overwhelmed at my failure to do these well, I should be encouraged that the desire to do them well is an indication of God’s handiwork in my life. I should also seek to be in fellowship with others that want to do these well and are seeking God for the power to do so.
One caution, the danger in church circles is to limit the “one another” to those in the church. But, I paraphrase Jesus here, if you love those who love you back, what’s the point?