John 13:34–35 (CEB)

“I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”

In a world divided by politics, denominations, and doctrinal disagreements, we often look for ways to distinguish who’s “in” and who’s “out.” Is it the way we baptize? The name on the church sign? The theological statements we affirm? But Jesus cut through all of that with a single, unmistakable command: “Love each other.”

That’s it. That’s the identifying mark of a follower of Jesus.

In the early days of the church, when Christians faced persecution, believers had to find ways to identify each other discreetly. One such method was the ichthys, the simple fish symbol. When meeting someone new, a Christian might draw one arc in the dust. If the other person completed the fish, they knew they were in safe company. It was a quiet symbol of shared belief. But while the fish marked one another in secret, Jesus said love would be the visible sign to the world.

Tertullian, a second-century Christian writer, famously described how the pagans of Rome viewed the early believers: “See how they love one another!” That’s what stood out. Not their theological precision. Not their rituals. Not even their preaching. It was their love, a love that reached across social classes, that embraced the sick and the outcast, that gave generously and forgave deeply.

Imagine if that were still the first thing people noticed about Christians today.

Too often, we let lesser things divide us. We argue over who’s doing church the right way. We draw lines over politics or preferences. And in doing so, we sometimes lose sight of the very thing Jesus told us would reveal Him to the world.

The fish might have helped early Christians identify one another, but love is how the world is supposed to identify us.

Love isn’t optional. It’s the command. And not just any love, but the kind Jesus showed: sacrificial, patient, persistent. Love that gets its hands dirty. Love that holds space for differences. Love that serves, listens, and forgives.

If we want the world to know Jesus, then we must start by living out this one identifying mark He gave us.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you didn’t say the world would know us by our buildings or beliefs, but by our love. Teach us to love as you loved: boldly, humbly, and without condition. Let our lives reflect the grace we’ve received. May those who meet us say, “See how they love.” Amen.

Today’s devotional was written and read by Donn King.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.