How will you be known?

"We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord."

So begins a well-known hymn from the 1960s that echoes the words of Jesus, spoken in John 13.

You probably already know the song's refrain:

"And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.

They will know we are Christians by our love."

No matter your community, you will encounter people with different opinions, ideas, and attitudes from your own. These differences can be challenging, and our Lord knew this when He gave this command to His disciples, a diverse group that included a tax collector, a nationalistic zealot, and fishermen.

Living in community as fallen humans means conflict is unavoidable. So, when we love one another as Christ loved us, we will stand out from other groups of people, witnessing to the unifying power of Jesus in our lives.

Loving each other means much more than a fluffy feeling of goodwill toward someone. It's an ongoing choice to act in the best interest of the other, to be patient and kind to the other, and to seek unity through the Holy Spirit.

It is, without a doubt, a tall order. And that's precisely why it's such a powerful sign to the world around us.

They will know we are Christians by our love.