What kind of family is the family of God? What is it like to live in His House? Can you imagine?
Society familiarizes our culture with two terms regarding families, “functional” and “disfunctional.” Born again into God’s family, Christians function uniquely toward each other. Grace flows abundantly for each member to interact in a large and diverse group, where unity may not have naturally occurred.
How? Not as we love ourselves, but in the same manner and measure as Christ loved us. The new commandment of the New Covenant takes Love and Love’s service to a higher plane. God’s perfect love modeled in Christ is described link by link in the Bible’s “Love” chapter, 1 Corinthians 13.
John 13:34-35: 34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
1 John 3:23: 23This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
John 15:12: 12This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
Romans 13:8: 8Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:10: 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
1 Thessalonians 4:9: 9Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
1 Thessalonians 3:12: ...12and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;
1 Peter 4:8: 8Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 1:22: 22Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart...
Romans 12:10: 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
1 John 3:14-16: 14We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8: 1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
The presence of peace manifests our hearts’ settled agreement with the King of Love. This is the simple happiness of love.
Mark 9:50: 50Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.
Romans 12:18: 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Forbearance is the perseverance of love. We bear the annoyances, thoughtless words and actions, and unkindnesses of others, returning good in exchange.
Colossians 3:13: 12So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Confessing and praying is only possible in the tenderness of Love.
James 5:16-18: 16Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.
The cost of forgiveness is the hurt that Love gladly accepts as its own.
Colossians 3:13: 13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Ephesians 4:32: 32Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Acceptance is the open arms of Love.
Romans 15:7: 7Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
Living as “one among equals” is the companionship of love.
Romans 15:5: 5Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus...
Philippians 2:1,2: 1Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Put the other person first.
Romans 12:10: 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
1 Peter 5:5: 5You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Philippians 2:3: 3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
The respect that Love gives to the brethren (because Christ also dwells in them) allows each man to receive from all for each individuals’ up-building. In all things, it is to the word of God acted upon and spoken by fellow believers that we humbly submit.
Ephesians 5:21: ...21and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
1 Peter 5:5: 5You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Kindness, the generosity of Love.
Ephesians 4:32: 32Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Burden-bearing, the priesthood of Love.
Galatians 6:2: 2Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
Hospitality, the open arms of Love inviting and receiving others into the circle of our home.
1 Peter 4:9: 7The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 8Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Well-doing, the service of Love.
Galatians 6:9,10: 9Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Love for a shared Savior accents the bond of Love’s greeting.
1 Peter 5:14: 14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:26: 26Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
1 Corinthians 16:20: 20All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
Romans 16:16: 16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
Love cannot hold a grudge or continually burn with anger.
Matthew 5:22: 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
Ephesians 4:26,27: 26Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not give the devil an opportunity.
Separation, the heartache of Love, cries out to be healed with Love’s reconciling balm.
Matthew 5:23,24: 23Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Conceit is love-of-self. Love never adopts the Adversary’s attitude or employs his methods.
Romans 12:16: 16Be 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.
Love does not vaunt itself.
1 Corinthians 4:6,7,18-20: 6Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. 7For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? ... 18Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power. 20For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.
For those who have received the love of the truth, lying strikes at the taproot of a fruitful life.
Colossians 3:9: 9Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices...
Personal preferences, likes and petty dislikes find no place to lodge at Love’s table.
James 5:9: 9Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
Love speaks to build-up, not to tear down.
James 4:11: 11Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.
Love “lives and lets live,” blesses and is a blessing.
Romans 14:13: 13Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this– not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
Romans 14:4: 4Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
The “Rules of the House” may sound a bit far-fetched and impossible to execute, an extensive list. The Church, unlike any other human organization, is empowered by the fire of God’s love. Together with our brothers and sisters we can, by the Holy Spirit, cry out, “Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6).
Obviously, no exemptions are offered for the above requirements. The “rules of engagement” apply to the whole Church, whether apostle or miracle worker or teacher or elder or speaker in tongues or anyone. We should not demand to be treated according to the guidelines of love, no matter our position, age, education, income, or any personal characteristic leading us to expect “better.” Love endures all things and acquires the prize. Love covers a multitude of sins.
The Bible says that as believers we “have tasted of the powers of the age to come” (Hebrews 6:5). Chief among those powers reigns the power to love one another as God in Christ loved us! The proof of our love for God is found in our love shown for the brethren. When we are united in love we radiate the unmistakable witness to the world that Jesus is the Christ (John 17:23). Let us all join, Church, and love one another!