 Ray Ortlund Jr. once posted a provocative blog entitled, “One Anothers I Can’t Find in the New Testament.” His list is both somewhat amusing and gut-wrenching:
sanctify one another humble one another scrutinize one another pressure one another embarrass one another corner one another interrupt one another defeat one another sacrifice one another shame one another judge one another run one another’s lives confess one another’s sins intensify one another’s sufferings point out one another’s failings How often are we Christians really good at doing these “one anothers”? I know. It’s sad. But if the church is going to be a harbinger of the new heavens and the new earth, not only do we need to jettison the list above, we have to excel at the list below: the true “one anothers” of the New Testament. Here are the top 5 most frequent “one another” commands: 5. Forgive one another (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13) Live in peace with one another (Mark 9:50; 1 Thess. 5:13) Bear in love with one another (Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:13) Have Compassion with one another (Eph. 4:32; 1 Pet. 3:8) 4. Be humble with one another (Eph. 4:2; 1 Pet. 3:8; 1 Pet. 5:5) 3. Greet one another (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Pet. 5:14) 2. Encourage one another (2 Cor. 13:11; 1 Thess. 4:18; 1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 3:13; Heb. 10:25) And #1 on this list, the “one another” command most frequently given is... 1. LOVE ONE ANOTHER (John 13:34; 15:12; 15:17; Rom. 13:8; 1 Thess. 4:9; Heb. 13:1; 1 Pet. 1:22; 3:8; 4:8; 1 John 3:11; 3:14; 3:23; 4:7; 4:11; 2 John 5) The church that is able to consistently practice just these, will be creating a culture of “Gospel + Safety + Time” and giving people a taste of heaven! God, for the glory of your Son, Jesus Christ, make it so of us!
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