A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another;

as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,

if ye have love one to another.

~ Jesus

(John 13:34-35)

As followers of Christ, we are commanded to love one another. The love that we have is our identifying mark.

If we were zebras, love would be our stripes. 

How can we be sure that we're showing our stripes at all times. If we saw a zebra on the day it decided not to wear stripes, we'd think it was a horse or a pony, but definitely not a zebra. Therefore, we can't afford not to be seen without our stripes; we have to show love at all times. But how?

1 Corinthians 13 tells us how:

Love suffers long and is kind;

love does not envy;

love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Wow. I am immediately convicted. 

Lord, please give us the strength to love the way you love. Please give us the compassion and the heart to love the way you love. Forgive us for not displaying love at all times. Help us to grow in love, to show it effortlessly and abundantly. Help us to love those who are especially hard to love. We are your disciples and we want our actions to show that at all times. Thank you for the awesome love you show us, which is manifested most in your son, Jesus. We praise you and give you all the glory, in Jesus name we pray, Amen.