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I’m asking you to consider this question: If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be evidence to convict you?
Evidence in Love
There’s an old song that goes, “They will know we are Christians by our love.”
Jesus said, a new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34–35).
There’s no wiggle room here, is there? Love is what we should be about. I ask myself, and I ask you, if you were on trial, could you prove you are a Christian by the way you love others? Jesus said two things were important—two principles: Love God and love people. And notice Jesus said this is a new command—to love one another. In other words, just keeping the law and checking off all the boxes is not enough; it has to come from a heart of love.
Thankfully, the kind of love Jesus refers to is not necessarily a feeling. It is an action, based on the definition of love as given in 1 Corinthians 13.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Whether or not you like the way someone behaves or approve of their lifestyle—whether or not their personality suits you or not—you can show love to them through your actions.
We’ve looked at three clear pieces of evidence that should convict us of being a Christian: the words we speak, the lifestyle we lead, the love we show. Just asking those questions is an important exercise for me—to cause me to pause and ask God to control my tongue and how I spend my time, and to remind me to show the love of Jesus to everyone in my life. I truly want it to be readily clear that I follow Jesus Christ—and I’m sure you do as well.