I once heard a friend say that he had formerly thought that the group was an add-on to Christianity, but that he’d lately found that the group was Christianity. It’s not just about us and God. The list that follows is a few of the “one anothers” from the New Testament, as in “love one another,” “serve one another,” etc. I thought I’d look at this again and think about how well I’m doing in this arena. See what you think.  What stands out to you?  Scriptures listed are NIV.

Rom 12:10

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Rom 12:16

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Rom 13:8
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
Rom 14:13
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
Rom 15:7
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Rom 15:14
I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.

Rom 16:16
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.

1Cr 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Gal 5:13
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Eph 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Eph 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Eph 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

Eph 5:21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Col 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Col 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

1Th 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Hbr 3:13
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Hbr 10:24
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Hbr 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Jam 4:11
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.

1Pe 1:22
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

1Pe 3:8
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

1Pe 4:9
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

1Pe 5:5
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

1Jo 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

1Jo 3:11
This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1Jo 3:23
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

1Jo 4:7
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

1Jo 4:11
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1Jo 4:12
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

2Jo 1:5
And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.

Friday at lunch I ran into a packed coffee shop, and ended up sitting almost on top of the table next to me at the only open seat I could find. I might as well have been sitting with the two people next to me, as I sat checking email.

One was an older gentleman, a pastor I think. The other, a younger woman. It sounded like a career counseling session, with the pastor giving coaching and advice. Interspersed in all of this was some Christianese, some platitudes and statements of Jesus, but all of it lacked power. The pastor was telling her “how it was” – the old boy network, whether or not you were from our town, his own disappointments trying to get on the inside, trying to advance.  The woman echoed back how she had been shut down and shut out, how connections hadn’t paid off and how frustrated she was.

I wanted to ask them, “where is your God, where is your hope, where is your joy in the journey?”

And then it hit me – You’ve led me to sit here to help me see that I’m just like this.  I can talk a good game about following You and about being your disciple, but it’s much easier for me to make excuses for fear, hiding and unbelief.

He is here, in the midst of our real life right now, and He has all the answers.  Maybe I just need to believe that?  What about you?

A disciple is not above his teacher, but when he is fully trained he will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40 (Phillips NT)

I think I actually want to follow Jesus, and not just talk about it. Dallas Willard thinks we can learn to be like Him, that grace is not opposed to effort. I thought I’d give it a try this year.

Phillips New Testament
Dallas Willard