John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved
you:
continue ye in my love.
An ancient story in Church history tells of the apostle John. He would
constantly repeat the words, "Little children, love one another." And
his disciples became weary of the phrase. Finally, in his old age, as
John was being carried to their assembly, the disciples asked him,
"Why do you always repeat these same words?" "Because friends,"
John replied, "it is the Lord's commandment -- and if only this one were
fulfilled, it would be enough."
What is the greatest witness we Christians have to the world around us?
I can tell you it's not only our words of wisdom, though they may be
wonderful. It's not only our knowledge of the Scripture, though it may
be vast. It's not only our material giving, though it may be great.
The greatest witness we have is the kind of love that the
Bible defines
above. Have we been patient and kind with others? Perhaps instead,
we've been envious, boastful, proud, rude, self seeking or easily angered.
I know I have. Have we kept a record of wrongs? Have we we delighted
in evil? Uggh. When we express the true love of God, we always rejoice
in the truth, protect, trust, hope and persevere.
Love never fails. Love can turn evil to good, darkness into
light and
enemies to friends. True love can totally transform the world around us.
I am humbled, are you? Let's strive to start loving the way
the Lord
would have us love. Yeah -- you know why. 'Cause there's just so much
work to be done!!