Marked By Love

We've heard the saying.  Though these exact words aren't in scripture, we can find scripture to support it.  

Jesus loved with an unconditional love that while we were yet sinners He died for us. (Romans 5:8)  And, He commands us to love one another as He loves.  (John 13:34).  Each and every one of us have sinned at one point or another in our lives and fallen short of His approval  (Romans 3:23).  So, this tiles out the "theory" that some may have that Christians are "better than" sinners. 

Jude 1:20-25, "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  And of some have compassion, making a difference:  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever." 

These thoughts were all spurred in my mind after seeing a clip of the TV show "What would you do?"  The show uses actors to play out scenarios to video people's reactions and what they do.  I  am embarrassed to say that on live television a group of Christians from "certain organization" acted the worst.  They were so disrespectful and rude. To be honest, I was frustrated at this.  The "witness" I saw in that video is that, if I was an outsider looking in, I wouldn't want to go to a church like that.

As Christians, we are to portray Jesus to those around us.  We are to love unconditionally, have compassion and make a difference in those lives.  We are to reach out to them... pulling them out.  It is by the grace and mercy of God that we, as Christians, have been pulled out of sin.  So that we could be presented faultless in His presence.  The old song says, "Give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion, give me that old time religion, It's good enough for me.  Makes me love everybody, makes me love everybody, makes me love everybody, It's good enough for me."   That is what should happen to us when we are baptized in Jesus' name and filled with the Holy Ghost; we should want love every body.  We may not agree with their lifestyle, but should love them, not condemn them.  

How do we maintain an attitude like that in this crazy world?  By following the guidelines in the Word of God.  Jude says, building each other up on your most holy faith, praying the Holy Ghost, keep yourself in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life".  In other words, encourage other Christians to build on our faith in God, praying in the anointing of the Holy Ghost, be careful to guard yourself with His love, look for His mercy every day.  

John 13:;35 says, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."  If we claim to be Christians, then others will know it by how we treat them.   When we live our lives like a true Christians, we love unconditionally, just like Jesus did.  I guess, in a sense, we are marked by love.