Joy Comes from Persevering in Loving Others

There is a purpose in loving the way that Jesus commands us. Look back at Jesus’ words in John 13:34: “This world will know that you are my disciples.” When Jesus describes “this world,” He is not referring to His creation. He’s referencing the lost, the broken, the nonbelievers. Jesus is telling us that there’s a way the lost can know about our faith. There’s a way nonbelievers can know about Jesus. There’s a way the hurt and the broken can know about our God. And it’s not through the things that we so often value or esteem, like our education, our titles, or our positions. It is not by our worldly possessions. What is this way? This world will know about our Savior by our love.

Because Jesus’ command is so counter-cultural, the unbelieving world will marvel. After all, they know how to love when it is easy. But this world does not know what it means to love your enemies. We live in a day and age where if you disagree with someone, they can write you off and cancel you. If you differ in opinion, they will spew vitriolic words, especially on certain social media platforms. But how different it is when we see a love like Jesus. When we see selfless compassion, marked by humility and honor. Yes, this world will know about Jesus when we follow His example and show this kind of love.

Friend, be encouraged. By your love, they will see your faith. By your love, this world will know that you belong to Jesus. By your love, they will experience something that they haven’t seen before. Jesus gives us this command as a testimony that we belong to Him—and as an invitation for others to come and belong to Him, too.

When Jesus gives these instructions to love one another, remember that He is describing a life of contagious joy.