One Another

The Bible is full of commands for being in relationship with each other, especially the marriage relationship.  Some of them are listed below. Our natural human nature tends to be selfish and does not embrace most of these behaviors.  When we choose to know and follow Jesus Christ as Lord, we gain the power that brought Christ back to life, the power to recreate our human nature as a new man and we are much more able to follow Christ and live for today, the way He has shown us to live.

Do unto others

• Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you”

 

Love one another

• John 13:34-35  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
• Hebrews 13:1 “Keep on loving each other as brothers.”
• 1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
• 1 Peter 2:1-3  “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

 

Respect one another

• 1 Peter 3:7 “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
• Ephesians 5:33 “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

 

Accept one another

• Romans 15:7 “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, to bring praise to God.”

Serve one another

• Galatians 5:13 “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
• 1 Peter 4:10  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

 

Bear with one another

• Ephesians 4:2  “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

 

Submit to one another

• Ephesians 5:21 “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

 

Encourage one another

• Hebrews 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.”
• Hebrews 10:24  “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds”
• Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Do not judge one another, Do not grumble about one another

• James 4:11 “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them, speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.”
• James 5:9 “Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!”

 

Be hospitable

• 1 Peter 4:9  “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5: 14-22 “And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other, and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”

 

Be humble

• 1 Peter 5:5  “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’”

 

Why would I want to do this? Jesus tells us that if we love Him, we will obey His commands.

We also know that God loves us unconditionally. Take a look at His never failing, unending, persevering love for you. He has promised nothing – that includes nothing you can do – will ever come between you and God when you embrace and accept His Son. 

What if God designed marriage to make us both happy and holy? Your marriage should be a reflection of God’s love for the church; it serves as a vivid metaphor for the central message of the Gospel. Most of us don’t really have marriage problems, we have Jesus problems. We don’t want to do what He said do. You and your spouse can love and respect each other like God does – unconditionally – with His help.