Encouraging One Another to Love

Learning to truly love each other is a vital concept if we and our family are going to change the world with the Good News of Christ. To do that, we, and they, must do so from a heart filled with the love of Jesus. Children do not come into the world loving each other. They have to be taught. Love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13 is the only acceptable response to one another. If you do not respond in love, you are in sin.

Your children will deal with their hurt in dissimilar ways. One may deal with it by stuffing it inside. You have to teach him to say, “You hurt me,” and then help him choose to forgive. Another child may deal with her hurt verbally. She has to learn to be quiet and to forgive and to speak with love and kindness. Both responses—silence when words should be spoken, or using hurtful words—indicate a lack of love. We, as parents, must teach our children to respond to one another in love and to respect the differences we all have. Our children must be taught to guard their relationships. When someone in our family hurts someone else, that person must speak to the person who was hurt and say, “I was wrong. Will you forgive me?”

When Hank and I were first married, Hank asked an older man what made a good marriage. He said, “Two very good forgivers!” I know in our family that has worked! After all, God has forgiven us all our sin. Surely we can love and forgive one another.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:23-24, esv).