If You Love One Another

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” – John 13:35

If there is one place on earth where racial prejudice should disappear, it’s within the church. But has it? If there is one type of people where racial bias should be absent, it’s with Christians. But has it? If there is one group on earth that should be able to unify all races, it’s Christ’s body. But are we?

Right now the entire world has a heightened awareness of racism in our country. Right now your city is watching your actions. Right now your state is seeing how you will respond. Right now our nation is watching. They are watching to see who will respond, who will show true unity, and, sadly, who won’t.

How will they be able to see who is a true follower of Christ and who isn’t? Jesus already gave us the answer, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). When people look at us, will they see a unifying love that reaches past race? If love isn’t obvious for each other, then neither is Christ. We cannot be divided.

Now is the moment for us to show the world we are true disciples of Christ. Now is the moment to make efforts of unity that bridge racial barriers. Now is the moment to reexamine and adjust our wrong, perhaps even sinful, mindsets. Now is the moment, above all else, to show love (1 Corinthians 13:4-6).

The question is, “How?” Here are some suggestions:

• Go blind to skin color. We are all family and heirs with Christ (Galatians 3:26-28; 1 Samuel 16:7).
• Listen, without judgment, to brethren who have a different perspective than you (Proverbs 12:15; 18:13; Matthew 7:1-2).
• Examine yourself honestly (Lamentations 3:40; Psalm 139:23-24).
• Repent of false judgments, biases, and prejudices (Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19).
• Pray for our mistreated brethren, for the church, for perspective, for our country, and for so much more. Even better, go pray with the brethren of other races (1 Timothy 2:1-3).
• Team up with congregations of different races to set up meetings, service projects, worship services, or some other ways that will encourage unity (Acts 2:44-47).

Let’s show ourselves to be true disciples of Christ. Let’s show unity. Let’s show love.