Some Thoughts about the Church as Family
Speaking to the Eleven in the Upper Room, Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you love one another. By this will all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35; NAS).
Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul expanded on what such love looks like: "Love is patient; love is kind and not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; NAS).
But such love is not always perfected in us in this life, so we also need to heed these admonitions: "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality....Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation....If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men" (Romans 12:9-13, 15, 18; NAS).
Paul included the following in his letter to the Ephesians: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32; NAS).
And this from Hebrews 12: "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble; and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord" (vv. 11-14; NAS).
James stated this: "This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God" (James 1:19-20; NAS).
And this encouragement from John's first letter: "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will seem Him just as He is. And anyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:1-3; NAS).
Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul expanded on what such love looks like: "Love is patient; love is kind and not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; NAS).
But such love is not always perfected in us in this life, so we also need to heed these admonitions: "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality....Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation....If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men" (Romans 12:9-13, 15, 18; NAS).
Paul included the following in his letter to the Ephesians: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32; NAS).
And this from Hebrews 12: "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble; and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord" (vv. 11-14; NAS).
James stated this: "This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God" (James 1:19-20; NAS).
And this encouragement from John's first letter: "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will seem Him just as He is. And anyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:1-3; NAS).
posted by Ebeth | 10:09 AM
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