When Christ summarized the greatest commandment in Matthew 22, He didn't just stop at loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  He went a step further saying, in effect, "out of the outpouring of your love for God and God's love for you, love others... as much as you love yourself". In light of this past weekend's focus on healthy relationships, I thought I would post the following list from the New Testament of "one another" love actions prescribed to all who follow the way of Christ.  In other words, this is how we can love one another.

• Be at peace with one another. Mk. 9:50
• Wash one another’s feet. Jn. 13:14
• Love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Jn. 13:34
• Love one another with brotherly affection. Rom. 12:10
• Outdo one another in showing honor. Rom. 12:10
• Live in harmony with one another. Rom. 12:16
• Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you. Rom. 15:7
• Greet one another with a holy kiss. Rom 16:16, 2 Cor. 13:12
• Wait for one another. 1 Cor. 11:33
• Comfort one another, agree with one another. 2 Co. 13:11
• Through love serve one another. Gal. 5:13
• Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal. 6:2
• Bear with one another in love. Eph. 4:2
• Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. Eph. 4:32
• Address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Eph. 5:19
• Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Eph. 5:21
• Do not lie to one another. Col. 3:9
• Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other. Col. 3:13
• Teach and admonish one another in all wisdom. Col. 3:16
• Encourage one another. 1 Th. 4:18 , Heb. 10:25
• Encourage one another and build one another up. 1 Th. 5:11
• Always seek to do good to one another. 1 Th. 5:15
• Exhort one another every day. Heb. 3:13
• Stir up one another to love and good works. Heb. 10:24
• Do not speak evil against one another. Jas. 4:11
• Do not grumble against one another. Jas. 5:9
• Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another. Jas. 5:16
• Love one another earnestly from a pure heart. 1 Pe. 1:22
• Keep loving one another earnestly. 1 Pe. 4:8
• Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Pe. 4:9
• Serve one another. 1 Pe. 4:10
• Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another. 1 Pe. 5:5
• Greet one another with the kiss of love. 1 Pe. 5:14
• Love one another. 1 Jn. 3:11, 1 Jn. 3:23, 1 Jn. 4:7, 1 Jn. 4:12, 2 Jn. 1:5

If you're like me, after reading this list you might say to yourself, "How in the world is this possible?"  Well, on your own, it's not.  But good news!  Christ gifted us the Holy Spirit whose sole purpose is to make us a holy people.  It takes a daily surrendering of will and might to allow the Holy Spirit to work in you the life of Christ.  But God's Spirit won't force you to do anything; no one is going to make you love other people or love God.

I believe that it starts and is perpetuated with desire and then surrender.

Desire to know God and experience God is key to your spiritual life.  Pursue God with as much fervor and passion as young lovers do each other.  Granted, passion is not something easily sustained, but it can be cultivated over and over again.  Desire is like fire, the more fuel added, the greater the intensity.  The fuel is revelation of God.  Make no mistake, if you seek God, you will find Him and He will disclose Himself to you! (Matthew 7:7-11, Hebrews 11:6)

Surrendering is not a passive act, but a daily, active one.  Surrender your wants and your will in submission to God's leading and authority and you'll see how much change His Spirit will bring to your heart, character and life.  You'll discover your life yielding the character of Christ: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  And I think these qualities lend themselves very well to loving others as yourself.

Have a blessed day.

-Adam