Proof of Identity

 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35 (NIV) 

Way before we are permitted to board an airplane, we have to show proof of identity.  Before we can cross the boarder into another country, we have to present a passport or visa.  Before cashing a check, making a credit card purchase, or – in some cases – accessing a workplace, some form of identification is required.  Having to prove our identity is simply common practice for us.  As Christians, we have no licenses, cards, passports or visas stating that we are indeed God’s people.  What we have instead is love.  It is the love we show one another that proves our identity.

Today, let us show everyone who we really are.  Let us love one another the way God loves us.  God's love - and the way we should love one another - is described beautifully by one of my favorite authors:

God’s love never ceases.  Never. Though we spurn him. Ignore him. Reject him. Despise him.  Disobey him. He will not change.  Our evil cannot diminish his love.  Our goodness cannot increase it.  Our faith does not earn it anymore than our stupidity jeopardizes it.  God doesn’t love us less if we fail or more if we succeed.  God’s love never ceases. (Max Lucado, A Gentle Thunder. Dallas: Word Publishing, 1995, 46)