The night before His crucifixion, Jesus tells His disciples to love each other as He has loved them.  He goes on to say, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” [John 13:35].

Everything good that Christianity has done in the past two thousand years has been the fruit of our love for one another. Conversely, everything evil that people have done in the name of Jesus Christ, blaspheming His holy name, has been the fruit of rejecting what Jesus Christ said, especially that night. I don’t care how much such people talk about love. “Love” divorced from God’s grace isn’t love at all. Conversely, love with grace makes all the difference in the world.

On your favorite search engine, type “John 13:35” and “William Wilberforce” or “Mother Teresa” or “Billy Graham.”  You’ll find untold numbers of links. What is the secret of their monumental, positive impact on the world? May I suggest it isn’t a secret at all? They simply knew how to love others as Jesus did: on the basis of Jesus’ righteousness, filled with Jesus’ grace, year after year, decade after decade—until the whole world knew they were Jesus’ disciples. Let’s do the same.

This is Luis Palau.