34“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. 35 All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” John 13:34-35 NCV
This transparent conversation is worthy of hitting the replay button several times. The title alone gives you insight into what you are about to encounter, as it is as real as the nose on your face. All of us have “prickly people” in our lives. Those “thorny” people that just cause us to want to moonwalk right out the door. C’mon now, you can probably name the first five of them in a heartbeat.
And yet, Jesus says that we will be known as His Followers if we love one another. He didn’t say “like one another,” He gave us a higher calling. Let that sit with you for a moment.
What struck me early on in this warm exchange of hearts was the fact that the Disciples of Jesus didn’t all get along all the time. If you’ve read anything in the Gospels, you will pick up on the varying personality traits of Jesus’ inner circle of friends. And their outbursts were no different than yours and mine. We tend to elevate these Biblical heroes of the faith because they were so close to Jesus, however, Jesus didn’t hesitate to remind them of the condition of the heart.
As we continue to grow and mature in our faith, we should be changing — to look more, act more, think more, LOVE more like Jesus.
Grab your favorite summertime beverage (yes, you can go ahead and pour that coffee over ice or have it piping hot) and join me for a moment to get real honest with yourself so that you can be more open and honest with the Lord — especially about those “prickly people” in your life.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
*Thank you to Joyce Meyer’s Talk It Out Podcast for this.
Titus Two 