Skip to main content

John 13-14

John 13:34-35 (ESV)

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.”

What are you known for? Everybody is known for something. Some people are known for being complainers. Have you ever met a complainer? Someone who is always unhappy or has something negative to say. Some people are known for their lack of compromise. Some are known for their overwhelming encouragement. Some for their strength, some for their wealth, some for their amazing athletic ability, some of their creative ability, some for their stories and some people, some people are known for their love. There is great joy in being around someone who truly loves others.

Jesus tells the disciples how the world should recognize them, by their love for one another. Not by what organization they are a part of, or what political party they associate with, what sports team they cheer for, or how culturally relevant they might be. They will be known; people will know they are followers of Christ by their love for one another.

Our love for one another should set us apart. It should shine brightly in darkness, just as the lighthouse on top of Mt. Vernon shines in the dark. Our love should be a beacon of hope to other people. Too often churches and Christians are known for other things. Let us be known by our love. May we live this verse out every day. I praise the Lord to be a part of church who does that and truly loves one another. May we be known by our love.

They’ll know we are Christians by our love:
~Pastor Tony

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Colossians 1-2

Colossians 2 speaks of being rooted in Christ. How is that possible to be rooted in Christ? It is possible through growing in your relationship with Him, that comes with time. How long does it take for a tree’s roots to grow deep? It takes a while, it does not happen overnight. We grow in that relationship through the study of the Word, fellowship with believers, prayer and other spiritual disciplines. We grow in that relationship as we go through this life and turn to Him again and again. Reading through this chapter reminded me of this older song by Phillips, Craig and Dean. Chapter 2 speaks of being alive in Christ. We are alive in Christ! https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_0_1jazh454 Actually, this week's Bible study touches on some of these same themes. Here is the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_81kE14c6zI&feature=youtu.be

Revelation 12-13

As I read through Revelation, I am reminded who wins! Who wins! Jesus wins! God wins! So many things in life are so difficult and take our perspective away from that, yet we must live looking forward knowing that God wins! I don't know all of what you are going through in your life, but let me remind you that you God wins. It is in the name of Jesus that we continue and press on.  This song is a powerful and wonderful reminder of pressing on in the name of Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=XuLqNvCplYs    Pastor Tony

2 Thessalonians 1-3

There are a lot of significant thoughts about the return of the Lord Jesus in 2 Thessalonians, but there is something else of great importance that we can be doing right now. We can be praying for missionaries.    We talk a lot about the need for praying for missionaries.  We also need to talk a lot about how we should be praying for them.  Here is an acronym, taken from Scripture, that may be of some help. The acronym spells PEWBOARD.  It reminds us that although it may seem insignificant to us that all we are doing is sitting on a pew, we can be a vital part of missionary work.  We can pray.   There are a lot of missionary agencies, boards, and sending societies, on which we will never serve, but just because we are on the “pewboard” doesn’t mean we are ineffective in supporting those on the front lines.   All throughout the epistles we read of personal prayer requests from that great missionary – the Apostle Paul.  His specific prayer concerns can be a pattern to help us to