Jesus was talking to His followers one day and told them He was giving them a new commandment: Love one another. Then He explained the why: Your love for one another proves to the world that you’re My followers.
That early church of Jesus-followers was told to love each other just like Jesus had loved them: Tenderly, compassionately, unconditionally, with honesty and truth-telling.
Somewhere along the way we have gotten away from that commandment, somehow thinking it doesn’t really apply to us loving them. You know, those people in that other church, the one that does that thing that isn’t what we believe?
We now have so many divisions of the Church that I’m pretty sure the apostles wouldn’t recognize it. This denomination believes this and that one believes that, so the people in each believe the others wrong and simply don’t love them. They wouldn’t cross the threshold of the others’ building because of it.
They choose to break the new commandment of Jesus by not loving all those who are believers in the Savior.
Friends, we are proving to the world that we are NOT Jesus’ disciples when we behave this way. We are proving to those who don’t know Him that He is a fickle, factional entity whose followers are ugly and unloving. If they won’t love those in their own “family,” how can they love those who aren’t?
How dare we sully the name of Jesus?
It’s time we who say we are followers of Jesus act like it by obeying His words to love one another as He loved us. Methodists should love the Baptists should love the Catholics should love the Pentecostals should love the Presbyterians should love the Mennonites should love the Greek Orthodox should love the Episcopals should love the Non-Denominationals should love the … get the picture?
No matter where your Christian sibling goes to worship, you’re to love them. You’re to care for them, cheer them on, and help them.
What would happen if our church publicized the events of that church down the street? What if we all got together and held community events? What if the world started seeing the difference Jesus-followers are supposed to be and wanted what we have instead of being glad they don’t?
It’s time to move into obedience to the King of kings. He said to love one another. Love His other disciples wherever they are. Let’s start today and never stop!
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
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