“By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

-John 13:35

This is probably one of the most quoted verses on love in the Bible. I am sure I have heard it many times but today I finally got it. I always knew we were commanded to love people but the first part of the verse is what really gets me. Love is not just something that we do because we are supposed to. Instead, showing love to others is how people know that we are children of God. How else will they know we belong to the Most High?! We can tell them we follow Jesus but if we do not love on them like Jesus loves on us they will not be able to differentiate us from the rest of the world. We reach unbelievers by loving them. You can talk theology and apologetics all day but if we do not love they will not be receptive. I have often heard the phrase, ” I have to love you because I am a christian but I do not have to like you”. I think this is as far from the truth as possible. Ask yourself, is that how Jesus loved? Did he just tolerate people? NO! He loved with everything He had He showed us how to love others. We as Christians and as the church are not called to merely tolerate people but we are called to love them. To love them wholeheartedly with all that is within us just as our role model and Savior does. Love God and love people so that the world will see a difference in you and so that they will know that we serve a mighty God! Go show love to someone today…. real, genuine, and selfless love. 

-Emily