Love your enemies. (Matthew 5:44)
Love your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27)
Love other Christians. (John 13:34)
“Love” in each of these is agape love, the love of decision, choice, will. Agape love isn’t emotion, it is obedience.
The Bible has a lot to say about each of these! Study. Believe! Pray! Obey!
Family
Christmas movies, TV shows, ads, and music picture ideal family gatherings. Ahhhh.
But, of course, families aren’t perfect, they may include believers and non-believers, and often there are various difficulties, trivial to enormous, even total separation.
Family conflict is always based on sin and/or unforgiveness. Unforgiveness includes the full range: mistakes, misunderstandings, and sins. We are commanded to forgive. We are commanded to love.
Love other Christians
If you love the Father, you love other Christians.
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. (1 John 5:1)
All will know you by your love.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34–35)
Characteristics of loving other Christians
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. (Romans 12:10)
Accept one another. (Romans 15:7)
Serve on another. (Galatians 5:13)
Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
Show tolerance for one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2)
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted. (Ephesians 4:32)
Encourage and build up one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Live in peace with one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
Seek after that which is good for one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
Do not speak against one another. (James 4:11)
Fervently love one another from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22)
And more!
Reconciliation?
Reconciliation involves at least 2 parties. But in so far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
If reconciliation isn’t wise or possible (but pray, pray, pray before coming to that conclusion), it is still possible to behave in a godly manner (e.g. not calling attention to the issue, not slandering, not gossiping, etc.)
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. (Romans 12:18)
Take stock, get ready for the King
There are still 10 days to Christmas. Take stock. Do you love your enemies? Do you love your neighbor? Do you love other Christians? Is there sin in your life that you need to confess? Do you need to ask forgiveness of someone? Do you need to forgive someone else? Do you need to have a loving talk with someone? (I’m talking to myself also, of course!)
Let’s get ready for the King.
