John 13:35 “’By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.’”

What a simple yet powerful statement from the lips of our Lord. Have you ever stopped to think about what He is saying here? He is saying that others (all men) will know (know through experience – ginosko) that you follow and believe in Him (disciples) by loving (agape) each other.

I think it’s curious that Jesus didn’t say, “other believers will know.” He said all men, lost or saved. How does a lost person know you are a disciple? By the love you show. We are not told to just love those who love us. We are told to love everyone. Why? Because He did, so much so that He laid down His life for them.

Do your children know how to show love? I don’t mean just to you or their family. I mean to everyone. How do we teach them to love everyone without putting themselves at risk or in danger? How can a child express Christ’s love to a stranger? Just watch them. Children can surprise you. They can love people we would not even look at. They can accept a stranger when we turn our backs.

We are facing so many threats in our world today to the Christian way of life. We are challenged on our standards and deeply held beliefs. Even in that, we must love. I heard recently of a refugee from Iraq who said she was thankful for ISIS. What! How? She said if ISIS had not come to her country and forced her to leave, she would have never heard about Jesus. She is now burdened for ISIS that they too could find Christ.

Will you encourage your children to love others so the world will know they are Christ’s followers? Will you love that way yourself? Will you pray for the Lord to put someone who is very unlovable in your path today so you can love them?