John 13:34-35 NKJV
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
In a museum, an old white-haired man was standing fascinated before a picture of Christ. After gazing at it for a few moments he murmured to himself, with face all aglow, “Bless Him, I love Him!” A stranger standing near overhead him and said, “Brother, I love Him, too,” and clasped his hand. A third caught the sentence and said, “I love Him, too”; soon there stood in front of that picture a little circle of people with hands clasped, utter strangers to one another, but made one by their common love of Christ. On further discussion they found they belonged to different Christian denominations. But this did not disturb their fellowship. Perhaps others belonging to their particular denomination, but not to Christ, could not do what they were doing, stand in awe before Christ and have fellowship with those who possessed the same feeling.
A true disciple of Christ will have a true love for the brethren no matter what denomination they may come from as long as they love and follow after Christ. One of the things we have done in today’s church is to love only those who come from our “church” and sometimes we look at others as competitors and not brothers and sisters in Christ.
Jesus gave us a new commandment which is to love one another unconditionally as he has loved us and he went on to say that this would be a mark for the world to know that we truly are his disciples.
We demonstrate this love for one another by following after Hebrews 10:25 which tells us not to forsake assembling together. Through fellowship we are able to edify and build each other up and we are also able to extend hospitality one to another. The new testament is filled with what I call the one anothers, ways in which we the brethren are to relate to each other. Forgiving one another, loving one another, encouraging one another, considering others as better than self and so on.
We need to mature enough to love each other and not think that only those who attend our little church at the top of the hill are right and the rest of the churches are wrong. we are all united as one body in Christ and He is the head. His sacrifice is what qualifies us to be called children of God and remember he loved us while we were still sinners. In the same manner we also ought to love one another unconditionally.
Reflective Thoughts
What is your attitude towards Christians from other denominations?
_______________________________________________________________________
What is your understanding of being one body in Christ?
________________________________________________________________________
How can you best love the brethren from other denominations aside from the one you attend?
________________________________________________________________________
