BACKGROUND:
After explaining what love does not do, Paul listed four positive attributes of love. Love never gives up, but willingly protects others. The word in Greek means “cover” or “hide by covering.” This does not refer to hiding hurtful sin but to protecting someone from embarrassment, gossip, or any other such harm. When believers love one another, they refuse harmful gossip and protect one another from those who would try to inflict harm.
Love never loses faith. It is willing to think the best of others. It does not mean that believers must be gullible, trusting everyone; instead, it means that they are willing to think the best as opposed to the worst of others. Love gives the benefit of the doubt. With real love, believers can deal with conflict lovingly. When everyone willingly thinks the best of everyone else, people are freed to be honest and open.
Love is always hopeful. Believers who love look forward, not backward. They seek for growth and maturity in the church, knowing that God is working in every person.
Love endures through every circumstance. Believers who love are active and steadfast in their faith. They hold on, no matter what difficulties they face. Hardship and pain do not stop love. When believers persevere, they face suffering within the body. They face persecution. They hang on when the going gets tough. They strive to save their marriages despite disappointment, to continue to trust God despite setbacks, and to continue to serve God despite fear or sorrow. When believers truly persevere, nothing can stop them.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
Christians are neither higher nor lower than other people. Someone has said, "The ground is level at the foot of the cross." And all Christians have the privilege of being intimate members of God's family.
You are to learn from others and to encourage one another. There is a certain chemistry that takes place as Christians get together to build each other up. This cannot be accomplished if you are isolated from other Christians.
From His the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:16
God desires that every believer be a functioning member of a local church-a local "body" or "family" of believers. Let's look at several foundational passages that show our church relationship to one another.
#1. MEMBERS OF ONE-AOTHER "So we who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." Romans 12:5
#2. DEVOTED TO ONE-ANOTHER "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love." Romans 12:10
#3. HONOR ONE-ANOTHER “Honor one another above yourselves” Romans 12:10
#4. BE OF THE SAME MIND WITH ONE-ANOTHER “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus” Romans 15:5
#5. ACCEPT ONE-ANOTHER “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7
#6. ADMONISH ONE-ANOTHER “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself am also convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another.” Romans 15:14
#7. SUBMIT TO ONE-ANOTHER “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:21
#8. SERVE ONE-ANOTHER “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom to an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13
#9. BEARING WITH ONE-ANOTHER “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2
#10. ENCOURAGE ONE-ANOTHER “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
What's the point? Christians are to build up and edify one another. No one is meant to go it alone in this thing called the Christian Life. God’s design is that every Christian be a functioning part of the body of Christ; that every Christian contribute to the process. Practice these one-another's today.
I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course.
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