Tag Archives: Good

Love Connection

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Last week’s blog entries dealt with Christians being kind—doing good and saying good things, from the heart—toward each other and those throughout the world. This topic won’t shake me loose as I continue to ponder on why God commanded us to be that way. Today I’m particularly stuck on what Christians should be and do for each other. I’ve listed 30 scriptures that command God’s people how to treat each other. These fall under the common heading of some “One Another” scriptures. I list these today so that you see what’s on my mind and so you, too, can ponder what your relationship should be like with other believers of Jesus Christ. As always, I welcome your thoughts:

1. Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another (Leviticus 19:11)
2. Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I [am] the LORD your God (Leviticus. 25:17).
3. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit [them for] a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour (Leviticus. 25:46).
4. If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet (John 13:14).
5. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another (John 13:34).
6. [Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another (Romans 12:10). . .
7. [Be] of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:16).
8. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another (Romans 14:19).
9. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God (Romans 15:7).
10. And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another (Romans 15:14).
11. That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another (1 Corinthians. 12:25).
12. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another (Galatians 5:17).
13. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
14. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).
15. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).
16. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (Ephesians 5:21).
17. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds (Colossians 3:9).
18. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:19).
19. Wherefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
20. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
21. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13).
22. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).
23. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of [his] brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge (James 4:11).
24. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door (James 5:9).
25. Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16).
26. Finally, [be ye] all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, [be] pitiful, [be] courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:8-9).
27. Use hospitality one to another without grudging (1 Peter 4:9).
28. As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10).
29. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).
30. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others (Philippians 2:4).

By Rhonda J. Smith

Tips for Activating Good Will

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With Sisters in Christ

1. Resolve in your mind that you want God’s will above your will (Matthew 26:39).
2. Don’t vent to others unless they are wise counselors and you are seeking biblical advice. You may be unknowingly gossiping about the person.
3. Meet with the person who has offended with you. Discuss your issues with biblical reconciliation at the forefront of your mind (Matthew 18:15-16; Philippians 4:2-3; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Galatians 6:1; and James 5:16).
4. Meet again with a mediator if you two don’t come to a biblical resolution. Remember there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors (Proverbs 11:14). Make sure you both agree on who any additional people should be. These should be people who are known to strive to meet biblical standards of reconciliation.
5. Understand that reconciliation may not be immediately available, but that doesn’t mean you don’t strive for it (Matthew 18:17; Romans 12:18).
6. Continue to work to do God’s will with your sister in Christ or without her, making sure not to slander her.

In the World

7. Fulfill God’s commands to impact the world for Christ (Isaiah 61:1-2). In Christ’s stead, we must be his hands and feet on the earth to meet the needs of people.
a. Preach gospel of Christ to those in need. Do everything you can to tell people about salvation through Jesus Christ. Don’t stop there. Show people, through your actions, the power and love of Jesus by
b. feeding the hungry.
c. clothing the naked.
d. binding up (bandage or heal the wounds of) the brokenhearted.
e. comforting all that mourn.
Do all these for individuals you know, through your church, established organizations or a ministry you begin. The point is: Don’t make an excuse for not doing good: being kind to your brothers and sisters in Christ and showing benevolence to those throughout the world. This is the call for all Christians, including the strong black woman who’s trying to refocus her attitude from simply doing good to look good but doing good because goodness emanates from her changed heart that seeks to be like Christ.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith

Kindness: Serious Christianity

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Evangelist Minetta Hare said that people don’t take Christianity seriously because Christians don’t take Christianity seriously. That cut deep when I read that because I know for the most part that is true. We Christians display our lack of seriousness when we aren’t willing to sacrifice for Jesus Christ and His kingdom.

“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us” (Ephesians 4:32).

On Monday I posted this as one of two scriptures that I based how Christians should exhibit being good, not just going along to get along but truly displaying Christ-like behavior. An Ephesians 4-32 word study paints with clarity the picture that should be our lives: We are required to be useful for each other, compassionate toward each other, pardoning each other’s violations toward us just as God the Father forgave the sins of those who trust in Christ because of Christ’s sacrifice for us. We must do what’s required in Ephesians 4:32 for Christ’s sake, not the sake of our comfort, not the sake of our feelings, not the sake of our tough reputation, not the sake of us not being played but because Christ went to great lengths for our forgiveness; we, too, must go to great lengths to be Christ-like and forgive our brothers and sisters their trespasses. This is what we are required to do. This helps us to help one another grow (be useful). This shows the world the true nature of Christ. This is a big part of taking Christianity seriously.

“. . .[L]et us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, . . .” (Hebrews 12:1).

Each of us has our own weights and a plaguing sin that keeps us from doing what God would have us to do. We always have to fight against these. But I believe that every Christian must fight against what prevents us from being good, fulfilling the commands in Ephesians 4:32. Giving in to ourselves only shows that we are operating for our own sake and not the sake of Christ and His kingdom. Our charge is to be good, to be like Christ, taking Christianity seriously so that others take Christianity seriously.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith

Hypocrite No More

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She was convinced that her friend did it on purpose, even though the friend denied it. At first she believed her friend, but the evidence against her was mounting and was now overwhelming. Instead of talking to her friend, again, and even bringing a mediator to the meeting, she decided that she would be cordial when she saw her at church, simply smile and speak. That would be it. “I’m still going to be kind to her,” she told me. “I have nothing against her, but I’m just going to smile and speak and keep going.”

I understood her reaction, having done as much myself. It takes a lot of energy to mend a situation that 1) you didn’t cause; 2) came about because it seems like someone lied; and 3) ranks on your list as trifling, and those you choose to do without. Yet the Scripture tells us to be good, which speaks to being useful in your disposition, expressed through the way you speak and what you do. This goes beyond the motions of speech and act but comes from a heart that seeks to be like Christ.

“By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

The goodness that we are called to is based upon these scriptures. Our behavior is not about us going along (going through the motions of speech and action) to get along (appearing that all is well amongst us). It’s about showing the world who we, Christians, belong to. Going beyond the appearance of good to actually saying and doing what is useful gives credibility to Christianity and Christians who call on the name of Jesus Christ as lord and savior. Judgment begins at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17). And what better way to begin this process than with self-examination? We must seek true transformation in our interactions so the good we do is contagious and truly reflective of a heart seeking to be like Christ.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith