BIBLE THOUGHT: “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another,” (Galatians 5:13, NASB).
A Christian friend went back to the town where she was raised to visit family. Attending Bible class in the congregation where she had grown up, she was intrigued as the discussion revolved around the question, “How do non-Christians know that we are Christians?” All of the answers revolved around several of our distinct doctrines along with the appropriate Bible texts.
After much discussion, my friend volunteered, “Well, Jesus said they will know we are His disciples if we love one another.”
Members of the class seemed shocked and astonished.
“Where did you get that?”
As she mentioned John 13:35, pages were rustling to discover a long forgotten truth.
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Like the churches in Galatia, all of our churches have had some problems. In today’s text, Paul calls us back to the importance of love.
Riches take wings, comforts vanish,
Hope withers away, but love stays with us.
— Lew Wallace
Bruce Henderson is the minister of Airport Road Church of Christ.
