DO OTHERS KNOW THAT YOU ARE A DISCIPLE OF THE LORD?

SCRIPTURE:
By this all will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another.  (John 13:35)

MEDITATION:
Every individual is endowed with the potential 
of developing three characteristics that identify them as believers.
There is faith, hope and love.
Faith is a conviction and a confidence in something or someone.
For a believer, it is a belief that Jesus died for sinners, was resurrected, 
and will return one day to take home with Him all of those who believe in Him.

Hope is an anticipation and expectation of something.
For believers, we eagerly await the return of Jesus to take us to heaven.
Love however means affection and adoration.
God’s Word tells us that 
love is the greatest virtue that we can have as His children. 
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 
But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

There are some important by-products of the virtue of love.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is 
not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not 
easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in 
evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always 
hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)

The scriptures make it clear that those who develop love 
will be noticeable in the world.
This is important for Christians 
because that is a trait expected in God’s disciples. 
Love opens the door to conversations about the Lord and salvation.
It is an unselfish love that is similar to God’s love 
which expects nothing in return.
Jesus demonstrated this type of love when He washed the disciples’ feet.
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, 
drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:5)

He also showed the love of God when He went to the cross for sinners.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

When we are identified by love, others know that whatever we say to them 
is because we care about them 
(even if it is something they would rather not hear).
If we do not have the virtue of love, then our comments can be interpreted 
as condescending, critical, rude and inconsiderate.

ACTION:
How are you doing with developing an unselfish love for God and others?
Are you becoming more patient?
Are you developing a kindness toward others?
Have you eliminated envy?
Have you developed humility to replace any boasting?
Have you eradicated any signs of arrogant pride?
(boasting and arrogant pride forgets that all you have is a gift from God)

Have you stopped gossiping and harming the reputation of others?
Do you no longer feel that everything is about you (selfishness)?
Have you learned to control your anger?
Do you no longer hold grudges when others have treated you unfairly?
Have you changed your focus from evilness to righteousness?
Do you have a desire to protect others from harm?
Have you learned to trust God in all things?
Do you have an excited anticipation of the return of Jesus?
Have you learned to never give up on pursuing righteousness?

There is no better time than right now for making any needed changes.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the love You have for me and all mankind. 
Help me to develop this kind of love in my own life so that others will know 
that I am a member of Your family. You have given me a list of the areas I 
need to focus on. Teach me how to work on each of these so that it will create 
in me an unfailing love that includes faith and hope.”