“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
-John 15:12-17
This morning, I met with a few brothers in Christ from some local congregations. I was encouraged! We have different denominational backgrounds, but we can come together and agree on a few very important things: we’re not rivals, but united under Jesus Christ and the Scriptures; Christ’s Church needs to be united in Him, as some very dark things are happening in the world right now (it should always be united); the community in which He planted us needs to be united in Him. So it is with these things in mind that, by prayer and the word of God, we have begun working together for the sake of the Church (not the individual congregations of it) in Murfreesboro Arkansas.
Jesus said to His disciples that the world would know they were His by how they loved one another. I don’t think that mandate has ceased. The fields are ripe for harvest, and always have been. We need workers for the field, and if we can’t work together, aren’t we showing the world that Christ is divided? My point is this: those who follow Christ and stand on God’s word are not your enemies; love your Christian brothers and sisters! Work together for the sake of the Kingdom, not your congregation. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Stand firm and stand together. The world needs Jesus, and we’re the ones He appointed to show them to Him. Love each other.
Romans 12
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
