Everyone will know…

There are more than 31,000 verses in the bible…31,173 to be exact! Now that is a lot of guidance, direction, and instruction. But lately I can’t get 2 out of the 31,173 out of my head.

John 13: 34-35 (NIV)…

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Why has this been on my mind lately? I’m not sure!

Maybe it’s all the violence and hate that bombards me as soon as I turn on the TV!

Maybe it’s all of these court trails that are being paraded around as “justice”.

Maybe it’s the current stage of life I find myself in!

But whatever it is, I can’t move past these words that Jesus gave his disciples!

When does Jesus tell his disciples this? Right after a worship night? Right after an awesome beach retreat? Right after getting a raise?  

Nope!

He tells his disciples this right after he washing their feet, shares in his last Passover meal with them, tells them that he will be leaving them, reveals one of the disciples will betray him, and right before he lets Peter know he will deny knowing Jesus 3 times!!!!!

It’s easy to love when life it great…huh?

It’s easy to love when you get everything you want for Christmas or your birthday!

It’s easy to love when your parents aren’t yelling at you or grounding you!

It’s easy to love right after you nail that presentation and everyone is high fiving you!

But what about when the bottom falls out from underneath you? Will it be easy to love then?

Jesus says that everyone will know you are MY disciples if you love one another.

Can your friends tell that you are one of Jesus’ disciples…holy and set apart…by the way you love? Maybe you know the answer to the question already…but I CHALLENGE you to think about this.

I’m not talking about throwing your money around and “buying” love!

I’m not talking about throwing your authority around and forcing love!

I’m not talking about throwing your social status around and intimidating love!

I’m talking about the love of our Father in heaven who gave his one and only son, so that WE may experience life!!

Sacrificial,

Serving,

Humble,

Graceful,

Merciful,

Genuine love!

Maybe this is why I can’t get those 2 verses out of my head, because my brain can’t fathom how great and good and just God’s love is.

Maybe it’s because I long to be able to love people…not just my wife, kids, mom, dad, brother…but the dude who stole my parking spot today at Home Depot,

That guy who almost ran me off the road when he cut in front of me the other day,

The girl who broke my heart back in 7^th grade…

But you know what? I don’t have to “figure out” God’s love…because I’ll make it very easy for you…YOU NEVER WILL!!

But maybe…just maybe…when we stop beginning sentences with “me, mine, and I”, we can start putting people first,

Maybe…just maybe…when we stop trying to consume and use people for everything that they are worth for our own “personal gain”, and start treating people as other disciples of Jesus,

Maybe…just maybe…when we ask “how are you”, you are willing, prepared, and able to stop and be patient for when that person “spiritually vomits” on you and unloads all of their crap on you…instead of asking that question out of obligation,

Maybe we will start loving each other, so that everyone will know that we are Jesus’ disciples!!!

Just saying!

Now go, and show the world that you are HIS disciple!!!