ChristiansUnite Forums

Author: Mary Wilder Tileston
Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference John 13:34


Loving Another

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

ONE with our brethren here in love,
And one with saints that are at rest,
And one with angel hosts above,
And one with God for ever blest.
ISAAC WILLIAMS

ALL extreme sensitiveness, fastidiousness, suspicion, readiness to take offence, and tenacity of what we think our due, come from self-love, as does the unworthy secret gratification we sometimes feel when another is humbled or mortified; the cold indifference, the harshness of our criticism, the unfairness and hastiness of our judgments, our bitterness towards those we dislike, and many other faults which must more or less rise up before most men's conscience, when they question it sincerely as to how far they do indeed love their neighbors as Christ has loved them. He will root out all dislikes and aversions, all readiness to take offence, all resentments, all bitterness, from the heart which is given up to His guidance. He will infuse His own tender love for man into His servant's mind, and teach him to "love his brother as Christ has loved him."
JEAN NICOLAS GROU

Enjoying each other's good is heaven begun.
LUCY C. SMITH

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I would like to stress that this is a COMMAND, and NOT an option. We MUST love one another. And this is the kind of love wherewith we must love one another from 1 Cor. 13, (I like the Amplified version).

4  Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

5   It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6   It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7   Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

8   Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy ([d]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].


I challenge everyone to read this a couple times a day, every day for a year. You might not recognize yourself in a year's time!!

ZakDar,

Thank you for this wonderful post.  I printed it out, enlarged it, and gave a copy to each member of my family.  I also taped a couple of them to the wall, as a reminder to read it.
Also, thank you for your post on the "heart of man".  That was another good one, and how could I ever forget the one on God's food?!! ;)

Grace and peace,
cris