Love Identifies True Christians—Protect Precious Unity

WHY IMPORTANT: On the night before his death, Jesus prayed that his disciples would “be completely unified.” (Joh 17:23, ftn.) To remain united, we must display love, which “does not keep account of the injury.”—1Co 13:5.
HOW TO DO IT:

• Imitate Jehovah by looking for the good in others
• Forgive freely
• After resolving a matter, do not bring it up again.—Pr 17:9

WATCH THE VIDEO “HAVE LOVE AMONG YOURSELVES”—DO NOT KEEP ACCOUNT OF THE INJURY, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• In the first part of the video, how did Helen indicate that she was ‘keeping account of the injury’?
We were so good today. I always like going out with you.
Me too. And I hope Ms. Johnson will come to the meeting on Sunday.
It would be beautiful.
Hey did you find your sunglasses then?
No! I looked everywhere. I have not the faintest idea where they are.
Hey!
Hey Susan!
Everything good?
I’m fine and you?
You left these at my house last night.
But you realize, I should have imagined it. I thank you so much.
Here it is. Susanna invited people to her house last night, and she did not say anything to me. As usual. I just do not understand.
I knew it was yours.
Thanks again. I always leave my things around.
Ah! Helen and how are you?
Well sorry, I have to go.
Helen? But what happened to him?
I have no idea.

__________

Hey Helen! I can sit down?
What do you want Susan?
Helen! Maybe I did something that made you sick, and I want to apologize if it happened. I hurt you somehow.
Am I wrong or did you invite a few people to your house last night?
Well! Yes, someone.
Tell me how it is possible that I will never be, never invited.
Helen, I’m sorry. I did not think that …
I did not think what? That I would not have noticed every single time he did not invite me to your house? Well, I noticed it. In the last two months, this is the third time you’ve invited people to your home without me. Not to mention the other 4 times this year.
I’m so sorry Helen, I did not mean to exclude you. I can assure you that there is nothing personal.
Nothing personal? But explain to me how you can invite practically all the congregation to your home, except me, and say that there is nothing personal.
Welcome brothers and sisters, please take a seat, the meeting will start in a few minutes.

• In the second part of the video, how did Helen overcome her negative thinking and develop a positive viewpoint?
We were so good today. I always like going out with you.
Me too. And I hope Ms. Johnson will come to the meeting on Sunday.
It would be beautiful.
Hey did you find your sunglasses then?
No! I looked everywhere. I have not the faintest idea where they are.
Hey!
Hey Susan!
Everything good?
I’m fine and you?
You left these at my house last night.
But you realize, I should have imagined it. I thank you so much.
Here it is. Susan invited people to her house last night. But why did not you call me this time? A moment! I have to think that the important thing is another. She is so hospitable. I should pray that Jehovah will continue to bless you for this. And maybe I can do something too.

• Ultimately, how did Helen add to the unity of the congregation?
Ah Helen, and how are you?
Well! And you Susan?
Very well.
Hey, would you like to go, and Elis too, would you like to go out on duty this Saturday, and then come to my house for lunch?
It seems like a great idea!
Would you like me? And how! I can not wait. Thanks Helen. What can I bring?
You do not have to bring anything, I think of everything.
OK perfect. Oh sorry, I have to go.

BIBLE EXAMPLE FOR MEDITATION: The apostle Paul recognized John Mark’s good qualities, even though John Mark had disappointed him earlier.—Ac 13:13; 15:37, 38; 2Ti 4:11.
*** w10 3/15 pp. 7-9 Mark—‘Useful for Ministering’ ***
Paul, Barnabas, and Mark traversed Cyprus, preaching as they went; then they headed for Asia Minor. There, John Mark made a decision that disappointed Paul. The account says that when the party arrived at Perga, “John withdrew from them and returned to Jerusalem.” (Acts 13:13) Why he did this is not stated.
A couple of years later, Paul, Barnabas, and Mark were back in Antioch. The two apostles were discussing a second missionary tour to build on the accomplishments of the first. Barnabas wanted to take his cousin along, but Paul would not hear of it because Mark had previously deserted them. This is what provoked the scene described in the introduction. Barnabas took Mark and went to work in his native Cyprus, while Paul headed for Syria. (Acts 15:36-41) Clearly, Paul and Barnabas differed in their view of Mark’s earlier decision.
Reconciliation
Mark was doubtless grieved by this experience. Yet, he remained a faithful minister. Some 11 or 12 years after this incident with Paul, Mark reappears in the history of early Christianity. Where? Where you would perhaps least expect to find him—with Paul!
Had Paul years before been overcritical of Mark? Had Mark benefited from needed discipline? Or was it perhaps a little of both? Whatever the case, their reconciliation testifies to the maturity of both Paul and Mark. They let bygones be bygones and worked together again. What an excellent example for anyone who has had a difference of opinion with a fellow Christian!
When Paul, during his second imprisonment in Rome about 65 C.E., wrote to call Timothy from Ephesus, Paul added: “Take Mark and bring him with you.” (2 Tim. 4:11) So Mark was then in Ephesus. And how can we doubt that he responded to Paul’s summons to return to Rome with Timothy? Travel was not easy back then, but Mark made those journeys willingly.

ASK YOURSELF, ‘How can I show confidence in someone who has disappointed me?’
*** w91 3/1 pp. 22-23 pars. 10-12 “Seek Peace and Pursue It” ***
10 Today, then, it is quite possible that someone may be offended by a tactless word or a perceived slight from a fellow Christian. A characteristic in one person may intensely irritate another. Personalities may clash. Someone may strongly disagree with a decision of the elders. On the body of elders itself, one elder may be very strong-minded and try to override the other elders. Despite the fact that such things happen, we still have to seek peace and pursue it. The challenge is to handle these problems in a Christian way so as to preserve “the uniting bond of peace.”—Ephesians 4:3.
11 The Bible says: “Let Jehovah be magnified, who takes delight in the peace of his servant.” (Psalm 35:27) Yes, Jehovah wants us to be at peace. Hence, he has made two outstanding provisions to help us preserve peace among ourselves and with him. One is holy spirit, of which peace is a fruit, along with related peaceable qualities, such as long-suffering, kindness, mildness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22, 23) The other is divine wisdom, of which we read: “The wisdom from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits.”—James 3:17, 18.
12 Therefore, when our peace with others is disturbed, we should pray for wisdom from above to show us how to act, and we should ask for holy spirit to strengthen us to do what is right. (Luke 11:13; James 1:5; 1 John 3:22) In harmony with our prayer, we can then look into the source of divine wisdom, the Bible, for guidance, as well as check available Bible literature for counsel on how to apply the Scriptures. (2 Timothy 3:16) We may also wish to seek advice from elders in the congregation. A final step would be to follow the guidance received. Isaiah 54:13 says: “All your sons will be persons taught by Jehovah, and the peace of your sons will be abundant.” This implies that our peace depends on our putting into practice the things Jehovah teaches us.