ALL BECAUSE OF A JANITOR
I attend a weekly Bible study. This week my group met for a casual lunch to love on “one another” and fellowship since we are off for the summer.
May I mention that I am the youngest person in the group (and I’m not telling how old I am.) The age range of the women is probably between 75-95 with me being the exception. You might wonder how I ended up in a group with women so much older than me.
It was all because of a janitor!!!
On my first day to attend this class, I did not know where the meeting room was located so I asked the janitor—my big mistake or so I thought. He had no idea where I should go or what I was talking about. He just wanted to chat and speculate with me.
Finally, three lovely women walked by and asked if they could help. Long story short, I ended up in their class even though there were about seven or eight different classes in which one or two probably included women close to my own age group.
When I walked in the class that first day, I saw canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. Within a few minutes, I learned there were women there possessing hearing aids, cancer ports, and living with dementia.
I tell you all this to say that God always knows what He is doing. During my 1 1/2 year involvement with this class, I wrote a book titled Christian Caregiving: Practical Advice for a Happy Ending. Not that the book was a direct result of this class, but it did give me a little more understanding and compassion for the elderly!
The janitor doesn’t know it, but his elongated speculation and chatter on room location provided for God’s timing so these women could “arrive on the scene.”
I love the ladies in this group and the Bible study. And, I think the group has accepted me (the strangler who invaded their already established group)—at least they acted like it yesterday!
Because of this class, I am a big fan of the books of the Bible we have studied together—1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, and 1 Corinthians!
Now I am eagerly awaiting our next study on the book of John this fall. Awesome!
Moving on . . .
This week I was listening to a Christian radio program and the speaker discussed the phrase “one another” from the Bible. So, being a curious person, I looked up the phrase and saw that the phrase is mentioned 153 times in the Old Testament and 146 times in the New Testament.
Faced with reading all 299 verses, I opted to read the 146 verses in the New Testament. Many of the verses had to do with speaking to one another, reasoning with one another, calling others for discussion, arguing with one another, and more.
But, for this blog, I decided to pull out some Christian advice and admonitions that are personal attributes for us to remember. I hope you enjoy them and notice how often we are encouraged to love one another!
“One Another” NT Verses
Mark 9:50
Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
been wasted?
Luke 23:12
Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.
John 5:44
How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?
John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 15:12
[ Disciples’ Relation to Each Other ] “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
John 15:17
This I command you, that you love one another.
Acts 4:15
But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another,
Acts 21:5
When our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another.
Acts 26:31
and when they had gone aside, they began talking to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment.”
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
Romans 12:16
Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Romans 13:8
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Romans 14:13
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
Romans 14:19
So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
Romans 15:5
Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,
Romans 15:7
Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
Romans 15:14
And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.
Romans 16:16
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
1 Corinthians 11:33
So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
1 Corinthians 12:25
so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
Galatians 5:13
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Galatians 5:15
But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
Galatians 5:26
Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
Ephesians 4:2
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,
Ephesians 4:25
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Ephesians 5:19
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
Ephesians 5:21
and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
Colossians 3:13
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
1 Thessalonians 3:12
and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;
1 Thessalonians 4:9
Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
1 Thessalonians 4:18
Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:13
and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
Hebrews 3:13
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 10:24
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
Hebrews 10:25
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
James 4:11
Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.
James 5:9
Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
1 Peter 1:22
Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
1 Peter 4:9
Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
1 Peter 4:10
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Peter 5:5
You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.
1 John 3:1
[ Children of God Love One Another ] See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
1 John 3:11
For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;
1 John 3:23
This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
1 John 4:7
[ God Is Love ] Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:12
No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.
2 John 1:5
Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.
Verses:
See above.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, Please help me to put one or two of the verses above into action this week. Show me how I can serve others. Give me wisdom so I can know you better and be a person who uplifts Your holy name. I love you, Lord. Now let me fervently love others in the power of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
God Bless,
Works Cited:
BibleGateway.com [NASB version]
Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest. https://utmost.org/love-one-another. 11 July 2018.
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