Actions or Words?

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35

I see some folks online, trying to prove their Christianity by their words, as if they need to convince someone of the truth. However, convincing is not our job. That’s the work reserved for the Holy Spirit. More often than not, there can be a bit of putting others down by showing through words just how much they know compared to you and me.

I love this verse because it contains a great truth, usually missed by the zealous. It’s the word ‘know’. The Word doesn’t say you will have to use fancy language, or eloquence, to all people so that they will know that you are a Christian believer. It’s the other way round. As long as we love one another as followers of Christ, all people WILL KNOW. They can’t help but notice. The Word of God reminds us that it will be obvious.

So, if you have a stumbling tongue, or are very shy, or introverted, or backward, or not very confident in company, you are every bit as able to show Jesus to others by your love. We don’t always need to use words, whether fancy or plain. We are charged to love our fellow believers, and even in the absence of words, ‘all people will know’. That, my friends, really is the good news of the gospel!