[Editor’s note: This is a follow-up to the articles “Our Garden of Fellowship”, “One-anothering: Things not to do” and “One-anothering: Things to do”]

And now let us look at six more verses on things to do in “one-anothering”…

7.  DO GOOD TO ONE ANOTHER.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 – “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”

This verse says to always do good to one another. Isn’t that what love is all about? If all Christians would try to always do good to one another, would we even need to be told to forgive?  There would be nothing to forgive! There are so many ways to do good to one another. We can do good in a PHYSICAL way (like providing food for those who are sick; or giving a caretaker a much-needed break). We can do good in a SPIRITUAL way (like praying for those in need; or encouraging the fainthearted).

8.  BE PATIENT WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Ephesians 4:2 –  “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love”

I wonder if this might be the most difficult–patience!  Let’s give each other time: time to mature in Christ, time to become the women we want to become, time to finish telling a story before we add our two cents. And what about our older sisters: they might need a little extra time getting in & out of cars & seats; they might need a little extra time remembering things; they might need a little extra time in answering questions.

Look how patient our Lord is with each of us.  He’s given us this much time already to try to follow in His footsteps.  How many times have we tried to direct our own footsteps?  How many times have we tried to lean upon our own understanding? And yet, He’s right there, patiently waiting for us to come back to try again.

If we are patient with one another, we will be more Christ-like and we will be blessed for our efforts.

9.  BE AT PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Mark 9:50 – “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Peace – another wonderful word!  It just makes you feel… well, peaceful. We can think about peace in a couple of ways.  One idea of peace is the absence of strife. We’ve already mentioned how we should try our best to be kind to one another, and to forgive one another when we fail to be kind. Another idea of peace is that we have a sense of tranquility and stillness.

This may be a true picture of friendship.  You know what I mean – you can be driving along together, or sitting in Starbucks together, or working on a bulletin board together, and nobody even has to say a word.  You just know that all is well; you feel that everything is just as it should be.

When we are following all of these other “one another” verses, we will be at peace with one another, and with God, and with our own consciences. When we succeed in being at peace with one another, we will be more content – not trying to change each other, but appreciating each other more.

10.  SERVE ONE ANOTHER.
Galatians 5:13 – “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

When Jesus washed the disciples feet, he told them to go and do likewise (John 13:14, 15).  Now He didn’t mean just washing feet (although there would be nothing wrong with doing that). He was talking about being a servant to one another. Look around your congregation, and you’ll see women who DO serve others.  Ladies who would go that extra mile, and give a warm coat, and even wash feet if it came to that!

It’s a joy to be served, but what a greater joy to be able to serve one another!  This, too, is part of fellowship.

11.  TEACH ONE ANOTHER.
Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

This is one way that we teach one another: in song.  When we sing in worship, we sing to please God and to teach each other. This verse is specifically about singing, but we teach one another in other ways too.  We teach each other in classes, through spiritual conversations, and through our good lives.  We have some wonderful examples in the Lord’s church.  Let us teach one another and learn from one another.

12.  LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
John 13:34 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

1 Thessalonians 3:12 – “and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you.”  Notice that we can increase in our love for one another – and then to overflowing with love!
Love for one another is a feeling to be sure, but it’s more than that.  Love is an action word.  Do you remember the verbs in 1 Corinthians 13? What does love do?  Love bears.  Love believes.  Love hopes.  Love endures.

These 12 things to do in one-anothering are not a comprehensive list; there is much more to be learned. If you’d like to continue studying about fellowship on your own, let me recommend that you go through Romans 12:9-19.  In this section the apostle Paul urges us to do such things as:

• Love one another with brotherly affection.
• Outdo one another in showing honor.
• Contribute to the needs of the saints.
• Seek to show hospitality.
• Rejoice with those who rejoice.
• Weep with those who weep.
• Live in harmony with one another.
• Live peaceably with all.

It would be a good exercise to memorize these verses and to meditate upon them often.  But even better, what a good exercise for us to put these verses into practice.

As we strive together toward Heaven, let us put out of our lives those things we’ve been instructed not to do and put into our lives those things we should do that our garden of fellowship may bloom ever more beautiful in the Creator’s care.

By Jennifer Jensen
Jennifer and her husband, Ron, live in the foothills of the California Sierra Nevadas and attend the Angels Camp church of Christ. Ron serves as the “back up” preacher, a teacher, and the regular song leader. Jennifer teaches kids of all ages, as well as Ladies’ Bible classes.  She is a keeper at home and home schools their two daughters.