Love One Another!

For Tuesday, January 13, 2026:

Hebrews 13:1 NLT: “Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.”

Our relationship with other believers should be special. In the original Greek, it’s called brotherly love. (Which is not to exclude sisterly love!) The city of Philadelphia takes its name from this, the City of Brotherly Love. Simply put, believers should have a family-type relationship with one another. After all, believers have been adopted as Children of God. God looks at us as being in the family, so church business is family business. We need to look out for one another!

In English, our one word for love seems inadequate. The Greek language gives us Agape, unconditional love. This is how we should love God, and how God loves us. This is full-on love, no matter what. It’s based on forgiving and forgetting. Letting go. Heaven is our forever home, and home is where when you go there, they have to let you in!

Other types of love include Eros, romantic love; Philia, friendship or brotherly love; Storge, family love or love for those with whom we’re familiar; and Philautia, self-love. We could perhaps use a little less of that one!

I’m glad my Sunday church has a monthly potluck meal after the service. It gives us a chance to better know our brothers and sisters!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Philadelphia - Love for One's Fellows!

For Thursday, May 25, 2023:

1 John 4:7-8 NLT: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

As Acts 2 ends, we learn that this new group of believers, ‘The Way,’ devoted themselves to fellowship. They shared possessions, took meals together and worshiped God together. This love for others, a principle first taught by Jesus, was being put into motion by the believers. Others liked what they saw and wanted to become a member too. They were baptized and brought into the fellowship.

To be clear, this love is not the unconditional love, like how God loves us. It’s reciprocal, treating others the way we’d like to be treated. This is not romantic or erotic love, but instead what the Bible calls ‘Brotherly Love.’ That includes ‘Sisterly Love’ too!

Christians should be nice people, friendly, helpful to one another and ready to serve. If group of believers, a church, isn’t welcoming and loving, something’s a little off.

Looking after our fellows should be as important as looking after ourselves.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Love!

For Friday, April 22, 2022

1 Cor. 13:1 CJB: “I may speak in the tongues of men, even angels; but if I lack love, I have become merely blaring brass or a cymbal clanging.”

I believe that the first qualification for a teacher should be that they love their students, care about them, not just reciting facts but actively nurturing their learning.

It’s the same with your church. Jesus told us to love one another, to love our neighbors in the same way that we care for ourselves. And there’s no better place to express love than at your church. This is brotherly (or sisterly) love, genuine concern for the well-being of our associates.

Jesus summarized the law: love the Lord, and love your fellows. Jesus put “love” at the top of our to-do lists! Do something nice for someone today. Don’t get caught!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406