Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.   -John 13:33-35

In this passage, Jesus tells his disciples that the world will know they are his by one thing and one thing only: when they love one another. Sisters and brothers, if there is one thing and one thing only that marks us as people of God, may it be this: that we love one another.

Sometimes it's easy to know something about a person based on the bumper stickers or license plate on their car, "they are a ______ (fill in the sports team) fan" or a "________ (fill in the college)Mom or Dad". As you go through your day, do you think it's easy for people to see that you are a follower of Christ?

The song "The Face of Love" by Sanctus Real talks about the different ways we've envisioned Jesus throughout the centuries. The song says of Jesus that "there was no one too lost for him to love and no one too low for him to serve." What stories from Jesus' life come to mind that show how he loved others? The song concludes by saying to Jesus "Let us be your face."  As Christians, how can we be "the face of love" at school/home/work/with friends/in the world?

Prayer for Today

God of glory and love, help us to be someone who loves others in what we say and by what we do. Help us to show your incredible love with those in our community so that the world may know that you are a God of love. Amen.