(The following is the April 22 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read John 13 and pay close attention to verses 34-35.)

Is the love shared between Christians so strong that it is evident to all, including non-Christians? It should be. Jesus said, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (vv. 34-35).

Unfortunately, many can share stories about Christians acting unlovingly toward each other. Words, actions, and attitudes between self-professed believers can be embarrassing, hateful, selfish, and sinful rather than loving. Christ’s cause in an unbelieving world suffers when non-Christians witness the unloving actions of those who claim to know Christ. The church also suffers when we allow interpersonal conflicts or other differences to consume us and disrupt the unity Christ commands.

One of the fruits of the Spirit, according to Galatians 5:22-23, is love. Paul wrote the inspired love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 to show what love looks like and to call Christians in the church to such a life. When we live a Christ-surrendered life growing in maturity, there is no excuse for failing at this basic command from our Lord.  If we disobey this command to love one another, how will non-Christians know that being a believer makes a positive difference? Why would they be drawn to Christ, given our poor example?

Since Christ’s love should be evident in our churches and communities, isn’t it worth it for ourselves, our churches, and the unbelieving world watching to make it so? Besides, “we who believe in Jesus are going to live together in heaven forever and ever, so we may as well be good friends while we are here.” *

Next Step:
Reflect on the last time you or a fellow Christian acted in an unloving manner to another Christian. How could you or others have handled the situation more lovingly? Are there actions you can take to remedy that situation?

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* CSB Spurgeon Study Bible, ed. Alistair Begg (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1448.