"...if you love one another."

Good Day,

John 13:34-35 (NIV)
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
John 13:34-35 (NLT)
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."

These verses of Scripture has been sitting on my desk (well, not on my desk, really, but in my "in box" which I call my desk!) for some time now. I've been looking at Scripture which has come to me from various sources and these verses seem to be calling out to me. Why? To be honest, I have no idea as to why. I mean, we all know these verses very well, I'm sure. We've all read them and I know that I've sent along probably several messages over the years based on these verses. So, there's no reason for any more explanation or admonition concerning what Jesus is telling us here.

Maybe it's just that we all, or just some of us perhaps, that we need to be reminded that those in the world are observing us...we Christians...and noticing how we act. People see us not only dealing with non believers in our everyday activities, but they also see us when we have business among ourselves; that is, how we treat each other and how we conduct ourselves with each other. Here's the thing that we need to remember: If we are no different in our dealings with other Christians than we are with those who are in and of the world; if we don't show the love of Jesus Christ in our actions with each other in such a way that it is evident that we are somewhat different than those in and of the world, then why would non believers, non Christians care to know about our belief in the Lord?

Think about it. Jesus said, "Your love for one another WILL PROVE TO THE WORLD that you are my disciples." THIS, our love that we openly show for each other should be one of the things that is obvious and noticeable to non believers and something that they should see as a desirable trait that they would want in their lives.

I guess we need to be reminded that we are to love one another in an open and honest way, an observable way, so that the world might have a desire to have that same kind of love in their lives.

This kind of love can only come from knowing and serving the Lord. This kind of love comes only because Jesus loves us and we love Him. Only then can we love each other as we should.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David