Colossians 2:1-3 NLT
[1] “I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. [2] I want them to be encouraged and knit together by STRONG TIES OF LOVE. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. [3] In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
There are two themes in Paul’s prayers for the churches he did not found, at Colosse, Laodicea, and other believers who, he said, “…have not met me personally.”
These two themes recur throughout the New Testament – union with Christ and love for one another. These two simple requirements lay the foundation for our lives as children of God and citizens of His kingdom.
1 John 2:3-6 NLT
[3] “And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. [4] If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. [5] But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. [6] Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”
Two laws replace the complicated legal system of the Old Covenant.
1 John 3:23 NLT
[23]”And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.”
Every other detail of our lives as believers in Jesus falls under these two simple directives. As I have written many times over, Jesus has called us into union with Himself, to live under His authority and to love His family. What could be more simple than that?
Loving God’s children is the counterpart of loving Jesus. Only by showing genuine love for the wellbeing of God’s children can we demonstrate the genuineness of our love for Him.
John majored on this principle in his first letter. How can we say we love God if we don’t demonstrate our love for Him by the way we treat each other in His family?
Loving one another in practical ways is the evidence of our love for Jesus.
1 John 2:7, 10 NLT
[7] “Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before…
[10] Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.”
How can we show our love for a fellow believer? By many practical ways of meeting their needs at our own expense.
1 John 3:11, 14, 16-18 NLT
[11]”This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another…
[14] If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead…
[16] We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. [17] If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? [18] Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
The Bible shows us ways in which we can express our love for Jesus by loving His people.
- By many practical ways of meeting needs. Food and clothing, shelter and care, are all part of the way we can express our love.
- By living in peace and harmony with one another, forgiving and restoring broken relationships, preserving unity by humble submission to one another.
- By bearing one another’s burdens, by encouragement, support, and prayer.
- By building one another up in our mutual faith in Christ.
- By using our spiritual gifts to serve one another.
It is not possible for us to participate in one another’s lives in all these ways but, as we are gifted by the Holy Spirit to serve one another, we are a mosaic of loving service to our church family. Doing life together in a community of faith is a powerful witness to outsiders of the power of the gospel. Jesus said that it is our love for one another and the unity that binds us together that bears witness that the Father sent Him.
How much better, then, when opportunity arises, to spend time taking care of the needs of fellow believers than using time, effort, and money preparing programmes and planning conferences and seminars which are, in the end, mostly forgotten!
Life in this generation is fast and furious. Loving each other is a way to slow down, and take time to minister life to the body of Christ that is meaningful and productive.