They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love

““Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’” … “‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” (Matthew 25:34-36, 39–40, NASB95)

It is easy to say that you care about people or even that you love people, but it is completely different to demonstrate love as a lifestyle. A loving lifestyle comes from a completely transformed life that is led by the Spirit of God. It is the proof of God’s presence within our lives and that we are children of the God of mercy.

As I read this passage, I was reminded of an old hymn, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” I looked up the history and found it was written by a Catholic Priest in the Southside of Chicago in the 1960s during a time of turmoil. This was a call for Christians to go against the flow of rebellion and show a new kind of love during crises and riots. The title of the song, “We are one in the Spirit,” speaks of the unity believers have with Christ and the love that comes forth from that unity.

This section in Matthew’s account is part of a larger discussion called the Olivet discourse, a discourse of judgement. Jesus declared judgement upon the Temple, upon Jewish leaders, upon the nation of Israel, and upon those who are merciless during the tribulation. When Jesus returns, He will judge everyone, and those who live a lifestyle of love and compassion will be rewarded with entrance into His kingdom. The irony of this passage is that as these tribulation believers are showing mercy to the brethren, they are doing so without looking for a reward.

As we have received mercy from God, we, in turn, are empowered to show mercy to others. Let us all be merciful to the extent that we have received mercy.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4, NASB95)

Pastor Cary


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