Love One Another

We are called to love one another. Fortunately, we don’t have to do it on our own. When we put our focus on Christ and make loving Him our focus, then we will pour out that love on each other.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. – John 13:35

Love is the ultimate example of Christ. It shows the world who we are and, more importantly, who He is. It’s no wonder Christ left us with the command to love each other as He loved us. It will be an amazing world when that actually happens.

2 Peter tells me to have brotherly love – or love towards fellow Christians. On paper, it seems like the easiest part of love. It’s when these relatives don’t conform to what I think their walk should be that love can be hard to dig up. I just keep reminding myself of what Jesus said to Peter when he asked about John’s life. In the Kathryn translation, “You let me worry about John.”

My husband sat on the couch on Saturday and did nothing. By nothing, I mean he grunted at me when I asked him to answer the door because I had my hands full prepping meals for the week. 

It annoyed me to no end. After all, I was using the time to get things done. He needed to do what I was doing. Well, not what I was doing, because I definitely didn’t want him in the kitchen. But I definitely wanted him doing something. After all, I was.

Instead, he sat there doing nothing.

I almost let it ruin my day. 

A quick heart check reminded me that my actions couldn’t be dictated by his actions, and his actions weren’t my place to judge or determine – no matter how much I want to. All I could do was what I knew I needed to do. I remember to “let Him worry about him.”

I can’t let others’ behavior keep me from exhibiting brotherly kindness. It wouldn’t bode well for me if Christ started holding me to the same standards.

So I will love my fellow Christians, no matter how many times they sit, stand, or kneel during their service, no matter what color their sanctuary carpet might be, or no matter how wet they got during baptism. I will love my fellow brothers because they are brothers, and that’s all the reason I need (Yes, even if they are my husband).

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Are you looking for some encouragement on loving others?

The Husband Whisperer offers up 8 secrets for having the perfect spouse, including encouraging them even when you feel they should be doing something other than sitting on the couch.