“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:35

We were reminded in church today that people watch us, maybe especially so when they learn we follow Christ. I again wondered what people see? For me I can say that there were plenty of years I did not live transformed. The truth that, “It is no longer I that live, but Christ in me”, had yet to work its way fully through my mind and heart. One of the ugliest things that remained was my lack of love for myself and others. Fear, insecurity and a false identity make a heart of stone tough to break. Until slowly it began to happen as I got to know love Himself, my heart was changed from stone to flesh. The false things were brought into the light, held up to Him and taken away. Exposed as lies because Love will always tell you the truth. Then as if able to see in color for the first time, you see yourself and the hearts of those around you and your heart breaks again. For many of our brothers and sisters have been hurt by our judgement, words, bits and pieces of scripture thrown in their face, doors slammed, no longer welcomed at the table. It’s as if lines have been drawn, teams picked and camps formed within the body of Christ. The only ones welcomed, loved even, are the ones that agree. So join me as I remind myself, it is love for one another that will prove to this dark world to whom we belong. For a body that fights against itself proves nothing but disease, and we are in desperate need for health.