Writings based on God’s Word

Light from the Word

Love One Another: his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his The brethren talked with him.” Moses truly loved the people of Israel and made Editor’s Note: The Bible uses the term “one another” many sacrifices on their behalf during their journey multiple times and it is clear God is very interested through the wilderness of Sinai. One of the more in our relationships. taught that the second notable occurred when he interceded for the people greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as after they sinned by convincing Aaron to make the ourselves. In 2018, we will look at several of the “one golden calf. God had told Moses that He would anothers” in the Bible. destroy the people and make a great nation of Moses’ “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if seed. Moses’ humble and sincere intercession touched ye have love one to another” the heart of God; “And Moses besought the LORD his Most of us are familiar with the second greatest God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot commandment that Jesus and the Apostles taught against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of us, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” This the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty familiar scripture is quoted directly from an Old hand? Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if Testament passage; however, in the New Testament not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou Jesus raises His expectation of our degree of love hast written.” with His commandment: “A new commandment I Jonathan, the son of King Saul, was a wonderful give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved example of sacrificial love. When David killed you, that ye also love one another.” Jesus demonstrated Goliath, Jonathan could easily have been envious His love towards us by His tremendous sacrifice on of the attention given David. Instead, his nobility the cross in our stead. By this we understand that and self-sacrificing friendship were revealed, “Then our Lord expects us to not only love one another as Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved ourselves, but also to achieve the higher plane of a him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of sacrificial love. Sacrificial love, is a form of charity, the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and and is defined in more detail in the familiar Love his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to chapter, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity his girdle.” Later, when he knew that David was to be envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, made king instead of him, Jonathan was willing to Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is put his own ambitions aside and even risked his own not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” This level of love life to intercede for that of David’s. “never fails.” It is to be unconditional and enduring Jesus’ account of the Good Samaritan illustrates regardless of the circumstances around us. several principles of love. For one thing, the injured The Bible contains many relevant examples of man was a Jew, and as a Samaritan he could easily the application of this level of love. Joseph was able have felt some level of prejudice against the other to freely forgive his brothers under what were nearly man since the “Jews have no dealings with the incomprehensible circumstances. Though having Samaritans.” Nevertheless, he had compassion on been terribly mistreated by his brothers for years, he the unfortunate man and went to great effort and freely forgave them even when it was finally within expense to help him. “And went to him, and bound his power to punish them. “Moreover he kissed all — Please turn to pg. 65

January 2018 SILVER LINING 3 Continued Articles

Love One Another son, which should betray him, Christ “that the world may believe — Continued from pg. 3 Why was not this ointment sold for that thou hast sent me.” three hundred pence, and given to Christian love is the peak of up his wounds, pouring in oil the poor? This he said, not that he spiritual growth as described by and wine, and set him on his own cared for the poor; but because he the Apostle Peter: “And beside beast, and brought him to an inn, was a thief, and had the bag, and this, giving all diligence, add to and took care of him. And on the bare what was put therein. Then your faith virtue; and to virtue morrow when he departed, he took said Jesus, Let her alone: against knowledge; And to knowledge out two pence (two days wages), the day of my burying hath she temperance; and to temperance and gave them to the host, and kept this. For the poor always ye patience; and to patience godliness; said unto him, Take care of him; have with you; but me ye have not And to godliness brotherly kindness; and whatsoever thou spendest always.” Giving financially to one and to brotherly kindness charity. more, when I come again, I will another when an opportunity For if these things be in you, repay thee.” Very likely the Good arises is another way we can show and abound, they make you that Samaritan was aware of the ill- sincere love to one another. ye shall neither be barren nor feelings between his people and Showing love to one another unfruitful in the knowledge of our the Jews, and he very likely had provides many benefits to the Lord Jesus Christ.” his own activities planned out church family. Showing love (Footnotes) for the day. However in this demonstrates a true conversion, 1 John 13:35 instance he avoided judgment of “We know that we have passed from 2 Mark 12:31 his fellow man, exhibited humility death unto life, because we love the 3 Lev. 19:18 and esteemed others higher than brethren.” Some other examples 4 1 Cor. 13:4-5 himself. By so doing, he fulfilled follow. Loving one another 5 Gen. 45:15 several precepts of love, “Let nothing enough to admonish them, though 6 Exod. 32:11, 32 be done through strife or vainglory; difficult, not only brings the 7 1 Sam. 18:3-4 but in lowliness of mind let each “peaceable fruit unto righteousness,” 8 1 Sam. 20:27-34 esteem other better than themselves.” but it will increase love in the end: 9 John 4:9 Mary, the sister of Lazarus, “rebuke a wise man, and he will 10 Luke 10:34-35 loved her Savior dearly. She was love thee.” Fervent love enables the 11 Phil. 2:3 willing to undergo great financial church to flourish and retain its 12 John 12:3-8 sacrifice to show this love even purity, “And above all things have 13 1 John 3:14 in the face of public criticism: fervent charity among yourselves: for 14 Heb. 12:11 “Then took Mary a pound of charity shall cover the multitude of 15 Prov. 9:8 ointment of spikenard, very costly, sins.” Then our love one to another 16 1 Peter 4:8 and anointed the feet of Jesus, and will show to the world that we are 17 John 13:35 wiped his feet with her hair: and followers of Jesus, “By this shall all 18 John 17:21 the house was filled with the odour men know that ye are my disciples, 19 2 Peter 1:5-8 of the ointment. Then saith one of if ye have love one to another.”. This his disciples, , Simon’s will in turn fulfill the desire of

January 2018 SILVER LINING 65