By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another – John 13:35
Last week I went into a grocery store to send a fax. While waiting at the counter, a man there was making phone calls. From the sound of his calls, I had no doubt that his intentions were not good. He was trying to get someone to come give him money to pay for what he had just eaten at the deli. His excuse was that he left his wallet at home, and he said the manager would have him arrested if he did not pay.
As I stood there, the Lord was talking to my heart, saying that I could tell that man about the Gospel if I paid what he owed. I was thinking, No, I can’t do that. That’s crazy! It took quite a while to send my fax, and then I had to wait in line to pay as well, and the whole time the Lord was dealing with me. I kept working it over in my mind, trying to find a way to get out of it. Eventually I started heading out the door, but then I looked down and realized I had forgotten my fax confirmation. So I went back, and the Lord was right there again, prompting me to talk to this man. I worried about what my wife would think—how would I explain to her that I just gave away our money? But wouldn’t you know it, I felt a tap on my shoulder just then. I turned around and there was my wife standing behind me! The Lord was checking all my excuses.
God made it clear that He wanted me to give the man the money, so I said to him, “Come here, I want to talk to you for a second.” I told him I would give him the money if he would come to my church. Whether he meant it or not, he said he would love to come to my church. The thought went through my mind, What if he doesn’t come? Does that make me a sucker? Maybe I am, but I will tell you one thing—you could feel God’s love in that conversation. Even if he never goes to a church service in his life, it is not between him and me anymore. It is between him and God, and I realized that my only role was to show him God’s love.
Jesus said that others would know we are His disciples by the love we show to one another.That is what He did for us—He showed us love by dying for our sins. And He asks us to simply show that love to others. The greatest source for the world to see Jesus is through you and me showing love.