Jesus instructs: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) Jesus’ words have shaped and formed me from childhood.
Growing up I attended Church camp every summer. Beginning in third grade, through the summer of my Senior year in High School, church camp was a highlight of the year. Church camp was such a big part of my life I worked two summers at the same camp while in college. One of the indelible memories of this time is singing the classic camp song: “They will know we are Christians by our love”: “We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord – And we pray that all unity will one day be restored – and They’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, Yes, They’ll know we are Christians by our love.”. . . The song is reflective of Jesus’ words, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
“By this they will know” . . . it’s a statement that leads one to self-reflection. It’s a statement that raises the question: Do our lives reflect Christ’s love? The Story is told by Dr. Richard Halverson, former Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, his son was playing in the backyard with his friends when the conversation turned to one of those “my dad is better than your dad” routines. Dr. Halverson shares he overheard one boy say, “my dad knows the mayor of our city!”; another boy said, “That’s nothing, my dad knows the governor of our state!” then Halverson shares he herd his son say, “That’s nothing, my dad knows God!” Dr. Halverson reported he slipped away from his place of eavesdropping with tears in his eyes. When he reached his study, he fell on his knees and prayed, “Oh God, I pray that my boy will always be able to say, ‘My dad knows God.’”
To know God is to know God’s love; to know God’s love is to love others as we are loved. May the prayer of Julian of Norwich be ours: “God of goodness, give me yourself, for you are sufficient for me.” Grounded in God’s love, we love. “By this they will know!” I look forward to seeing you in church.
Through Christ,
Pastor Doug