July 17, 2023: Love One Another!

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34–35, ESV)

Francis Schaffer, in his book, “The Mark Of A Christian”, said, "...it is possible to be a Christian and not show the mark. But, if we expect non-Christians to know that we are Christians, we must show the mark.' A mark is something that others can see. A mark is also an identifier. In two verses, Jesus said three times, "Love one another."  
    
Love towards others is to be the true mark of a Christian. You get a tattoo of a fish or cross. You can wear an 'I love Jesus' T-shirt. You can even have a 'Jesus is Lord!' bumper sticker. All of those things identify with the Christian faith, but they are not a true mark of the faith. What is the true mark of a Christian? The way we love one another is a true mark of a Christian.
    
You can be a Christian and not show the mark. But what good is that? We want the mark of how we love one another to be clearly visible for all to see. For others to see God, we must be Christians that love one another well. This is the whole point of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Love one another