A friend shared this blessing from her church this morning:
"Life is short, and we do not have too much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us, so be quick to love and make haste to be kind. And may the blessing of the One who made us, the one who loves us, and the One who travels with us, be with you and those you love this day and always. Amen.”
My pastor’s sermon reminded us that this life is about people, not projects, as Jesus pointed out in his call for laborers.
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
I know for a fact that these two church speakers didn’t consult. My pastor said this morning that his sermon was a last minute change from his original plan. It would not surprise me to learn that other messages this morning were focused on, as my buddy Cliff would say, the one anothers.
The Scriptures are full of commands on this topic:
“Love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
“Love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12
“These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” John 15:17
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:10
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” Romans 12:16
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,” Ephesians 4:2
“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” Ephesians 4:25
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,” Ephesians 5:19
“Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:21
“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Colossians 3:13
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,” 1 Thessalonians 3:12
"Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,” 1 Thessalonians 4:9
“Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15
“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” 2 Thessalonians 1:3
“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” Hebrews 10:24
“Encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25
“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.” James 4:11
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,” 1 Peter 1:22
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:” 1 Peter 4:10
“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5
“Greet one another with the kiss of love.” 1 Peter 5:14
“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” 1 John 3:11
“And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” 1 John 3:23
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:11
“If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” 1 John 4:12
With that much real estate dedicated to our devotion to one another, it seems to me that we should do as my friend’s blessing suggested: “Gladden the hearts of those who travel with us, so be quick to love and make haste to be kind.”
Let that be your inspiration as we start a new week. Who, today, will be your one-another?
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