Developing close bonds with others is highly valued, as emphasized by the Bible's encouragement to dwell in unity and love our neighbors. Showing kindness, even to those with different beliefs, imitates Jehovah God's impartial love for all humanity. This article will explore the importance of cultivating love for fellow worshippers and provide guidance on how to strengthen these relationships continually.

___________________________________________________________________________

DRAWING CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER IS GOOD FOR US!

• Jehovah prioritizes how we treat others, teaching us to love our neighbor as ourselves and show kindness even to those who don't share our beliefs, imitating Him who is kind to all.
• Jehovah has a special fondness for those who practice what is right and desires us to have "intense love" and "tender affection" for our fellow worshippers.
• Just like a houseplant, love needs to be nurtured to grow; we must continually cultivate our love for others.

___________________________________________________________________________

WHY WE SHOULD DRAW CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER

• True friendship with those who love Jehovah is "good" and "pleasant," and we should never take for granted the beauty of our Christian unity. We can maintain appreciation by reflecting on the value of each individual in the congregation.
• Our love for one another is a powerful witness to new ones, often moving them to serve Jehovah, as seen in Chaithra's experience where she felt Jehovah's love through the hugs received at a convention.
• Drawing closer to our brothers and sisters serves as a protection, as we can encourage one another daily to avoid becoming hardened by sin and provide help when needed.
• We enjoy many blessings from showing love, including the ability to "continue putting up with one another" and maintaining Christian unity, which creates a pleasant atmosphere at meetings.

___________________________________________________________________________

• The global unity we experience is a miracle made possible by Jehovah, who "teaches us to love one another" through the Scriptures.
• We are encouraged to "take the lead" in showing honor to one another, initiating tender affection through forgiveness, hospitality, and generosity, remembering that "there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving."
• Being industrious and not lazy means we should proactively help those in need and not procrastinate or assume others will act.
• Showing honor also means being quick to forgive those who offend us, which is crucial for maintaining "the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace."
• Being "aglow with the spirit" (meaning radiating zeal and enthusiasm from God's holy spirit) helps us to show tender affection and forgive freely.

___________________________________________________________________________

“THERE SHOULD BE NO DIVISIONS AMONG YOU”

• Despite congregations being made up of "all sorts of people" with diverse backgrounds, we must be careful not to let personal differences create divisions or promote our choices as superior.
• We can prevent divisions by striving to be refreshing and upbuilding to others at all times, warmly welcoming those who return to the congregation.
• Our speech is vital for promoting unity; we should always think carefully about what we say to ensure it is upbuilding, refreshing, and "beneficial to the hearers."
• Husbands, parents, and elders especially should be upbuilding in their speech, remembering that "a word spoken at the right time - how good it is!"

___________________________________________________________________________

LOVE “IN DEED AND TRUTH”

• We are encouraged to love "not in word or with the tongue, but in deed and truth," meaning our love should come from the heart.
• The more time we spend with our brothers and sisters, the closer we will draw to one another, and our love will grow stronger.
• By creating opportunities to spend time together, we demonstrate that we are "taught by God to love one another" and will continue to experience the goodness and pleasantness of unity.

Thank you for reading,
-Soli Jehova Gloria (1 Corinthians 10:31)