Our behavior matters.
This is true whether we are dealing with Christians or non-Christians. It is true when speaking with a neighbor or a stranger. It is also true when we are commenting on social media.
Whether we agree or disagree with others, we are obligated to conduct ourselves in a manner consistent with Christianity. We must make sure our behavior is motivated by love (1 Corinthians 16:14).
The Command to Love
Throughout the New Testament we are commanded to “love one another.” Jesus provided a foundational admonition when He said:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34, NKJV).
If we obey Jesus’s commandment, we will avoid sinning against and hurting others, for as Paul noted:
“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10).
If we obey Jesus’s commandment, we will also treat others with kindness and respect. Encouraging this, Peter wrote:
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit the blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-9).
The Application of Love
Love is seen in the actions of a child who helps her Sunday School teacher straighten the room after class. It is seen in the efforts made to prepare a meal for a neighbor who is sick or having a difficult time.
Love is seen in the actions of a business owner who goes out of his way to treat his employees as more than a means to an end. It is seen in the life of the teen who welcomes the new kid to school.
Love is seen in the way we greet both friends and visitors. It is seen in the way we agree with one another; it is seen in the way we disagree.
Love is seen in the effort an elderly couple makes to assemble with the church. It is seen in the way a young couple patiently cares for and trains their children during worship.
Love is seen in an invitation to a Gospel Meeting. It is seen in a note or text of encouragement. Love is seen in a phone call or a visit.
As Paul observed, love is seen when we “serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
The Power of Love
Jesus provided us with the ultimate example of service and love. Emphasizing this, John wrote:
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).
We should love one another because “God is love” (1 John 4:8); we should love one another because our behavior indicates whether we are disciples of Jesus (John 13:35).
Perhaps Peter said it best:
“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’” (1 Peter 4:8).
If you want to change the world, love one another.
Chad Ramsey preaches for the Gloster Street Church of Christ in Tupelo, Mississippi. You can access their Bible classes and Chad’s sermons on Gloster Street’s YouTube page.
Chad was - and still is - “my preacher” from when I spent my high school and early college years at Gloster Street. I’m thankful to be able to share some of his writings with you.
