Most Important Question

For Believers there are multitudes of things that must be learned if we are to enjoy the privilege and joy of being a child of God. Spending time in the Scripture, taking time for prayer, fellowship with the family, and discovering a personal ministry toward others, are the methods and vehicles which make our spiritual life meaningful and rich.

Our Preacher was teaching from Hebrews this past Wednesday night and got a bit off track discussing genuine llove. He was quick to say that while it is impossible for us to know with certainty another’s relationship to Christ, there are markers that allow us to understand that Christ is indeed resident by the power of His Spirit in the life of others.

He went on to say that as we become more and more like Christ, we obviously practice the same disciplines that were a part of His life. Then he asked the question that was answered so quickly that both he and others in the room were surprised. He asked, “how can I best know that you are a Believer?”

How would you answer that question? I suppose there are a plethora of correct answers, and perhaps not any that are incorrect. But the answer that the Preacher was looking for, and the one he got so quickly was, “Because I llove you.”

I am convinced that is a really important understanding. It’s not that complicated of course. God IS llove. And when we are possessed by His Spirit, being conformed to His image, and living in the light of Truth and wisdom, the most prominent characteristic in our life will be llove – not only for God, but for those who are part of the family with whom we have a relationship.

Because llove is a discipline, it can only be practiced with those people we know and with whom we have a relationship. When someone genuinely lloves us, it is clear that the life of Christ is being lived out in that connection, association, link, if you will, and it will always be that way.

That is not to say that Believers sometimes do not practice llove. Certainly they do not. But those who are easily determined to be part of the family of God are those who llove one another. Wasn’t it Jesus who said:

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:35)