Becoming Like JesusSample

Love

A while back, my family and I had a chance to ride a local streetcar. As we traversed one street, my youngest child spotted a bench with the word “love” on it. He exclaimed, “that must be the family bench!”

My heart was bursting with joy. There is nothing I want more than for our home and our family to be known for our love. Why? Because that is how we should be known.

Not long before Jesus was arrested, He told his disciples, “by this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have a love for one another.”

Love should be our defining characteristic.

Furthermore, our foundational passage reminds us that love is what binds us together.

“And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:14

In a world where there is so much dispute, we have the opportunity to set ourselves apart. Rather than engaging in the continuous strife on social media and contributing to the fracturing chaos surrounding us, we can be vessels of love, pointing others towards peace and unity.

As we embody the characteristics we have studied over the last several days, we will see that love is the prevailing string through them all.

When we are compassionate, we are showing love.

When we are kind, we are showing love.

When we are humble, we are showing love.

When we are gentle, we are showing love.

When we are patient, we are showing love.

When we forgive others, we are showing love.

God is love, and as we strive to be like Him, we too will become known for our love.

I pray that our study has been an encouragement and exhortation to live a life worthy of the calling.