Show your love

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

‭‭S. John‬ ‭13‬:‭35‬ ‭RV1895‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/1922/jhn.13.35.RV1895

Today’s verse is packed with power because of its direct instruction from Christ. It enforces the commandment to love one another and love your enemies. In fact, it should be how we are identified with Christ.

But why? Love and forgiveness is not natural in all circumstances. I remembered a history lesson about Pliny. He was a governor or regional head of state for the Roman emperor at the time of Christian persecution.

When he started overseeing criminal hearings, he couldn’t understand the Christians. He would question them expecting to find a crime, at times he even tortured some. They must be hiding something.

He found them to be kind, law abiding citizens that ate a meal together and talked about Christ- whom they believed a god that died under Roman execution.

This was very strange for Romans at the time. There was no crime besides saying they were Christians. He would ask them, “are you Christian?” If they said yes, he would ask again. Then he would remind them of the punishment of death for Christians. If they recanted, he let them go. If they continued to say yes, they were executed.

I think these early Christians really make our modern Christian society look bad. There are so many people who wear the title “Christian” but don’t really know what it means or how to live a life as a follower of Christ.

What do you think?