Focus: The Badge Of The Christian Faith

Text: Jh.13:35

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

It is by loving one another as believers in Christ that all men will know that we are the followers of Christ.

The first point to note is that Christ is not talking about us loving the world but about us loving ourselves. Then the world would see our love for each other, and then know that we are indeed the disciples of Christ and be drawn to Christ because of it. 

The best way to evangelize the world is by loving one another as Christians, because that is what the world will see and be compelled to believe in Christ.

Our love for each other sends signals to the world that we truly belong to Christ, and that the way of Christ is the best way to go. Love is the badge of a disciple of Christ. The love of Christ we are called to exhibit makes the world to feel, touch, and see the authenticity of our faith in Christ.

Another point to note is that love is more than what we say; it is what we show. Love is doable and provable even in a world filled with hate and all other evils. Love is more than a thing - a pronoun; it is something we do - a verb or an action word. Love is what we demonstrate both by lips, by life, and by fruits.

Also, another point to note is that the world identifies with the change that has taken place in our lives when they see us loving each other. The love of God flows into us by the agency of the Holy Spirit, and flows from us to convince and possibly convert the outside world to the faith of Christ.

The last point to note is that Christ demands that we exemplify His love for us by loving each other, and by so doing, the world will come to acknowledge that we are the true disciples of Him. Christ is not telling us to love the world but to love our fellow Christians. The world needs to see the love of God in us and our love for one another. Our love for each other is an open invitation to the world to embrace Christ as the Savior and Lord of their lives.

Mary and Martha sent a message to the Lord Jesus Christ, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick" (Jh.11:3). The sisters of Lazarus took notice of Christ's love for their brother. In verse 5, John writes, "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus" (Jh.11:5). Christ did not love one person out of the three family members; He loved them all - the three of them. But how did the outsiders know that Jesus Christ loved Lazarus? It was when they saw Jesus Christ weeping with Mary over the death of Lazarus, and they said, "Behold how he loved him!" (Jh.11:36). They could see the heart of Christ and the love that flowed from it through His tears. They exclaimed, "Behold…!" His love was beyond definition or explanation. His love prompted an exclamation. They could see His love in action. They felt it. They testified of it.

The love of God in our hearts is demonstrable. Someone needs to see it and be attracted by it. Love flows from the heart to every other part of our body. Our hands do love. Our feet go where love is needed. Our tongue tells of Christ's love. Our walk and work become an expression of Christ's love.

Child of God, love your fellow Christians! Let your whole being be an expression of divine love! The cross is the evidence of Christ's love for us. Where is the cross in your own love? At the center of Christ's love is the cross. If the cross is missing in your love, then your love is not true and real. Let's wear our badge - the badge of love. The world is watching what you do before it can listen to what you say. Love is the badge of the Christian faith; let's wear it!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter