Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

John 13:35 (NLT)

When you’re not with other Christians, do you act differently from everyone else? Is there something about you that separates you from them?

Yesterday we talked about God leaving His mark on us—the evidence of His mark is love.

If you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways, the Lord will establish you as his holy people as he solemnly promised to do. Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the Lord, and they will stand in awe of you.

Deuteronomy 28:9-10 (NLT)

Israel wasn’t different just because they were a different nation. Their actions and traditions made them stand out over every other nation in the area. They didn’t have to tell people they were set apart, they really were set apart.

The Church should be the same. We shouldn’t have to go around telling everyone we’re Christians, it should be plainly evident in the way we act. If we have to tell people we’re different, are we really different?

If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth, but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging symbol.

1 Corinthians 13:1 (NLT)

I’m going to challenge you today—when you go about your daily business, love. Don’t be stingy with it. Be audacious with it. Greet people warmly (without being awkward about it), give generously, smile at the person who scowls at you. Act differently and see if anyone takes notice. The responses you get might even surprise you.

Daily Bible reading: Deuteronomy 28, Mark 15:27-47