Designer clothes brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren are recognised by their designs and by their trademarks. These trademarks make them immensely visible and identifiable. Sometimes workers in certain industries are identified by their attire, such as a surgeon who wears scrubs, or a policeman who wears a uniform, or a judge who wears robes. And Jesus has given to us something as irrefutable evidence that we are close to God – a test whereby you can evaluate your own spiritual growth. In fact, so amazing is this trademark that He said it would be the foremost declaration of your faith. Jesus said it like this: ‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another’ (vv. 34-35 NKJV). Francis Schaeffer, the great Christian apologist, said, ‘Love is the final apologetic. It is the defence for which there is no defence.’ When a woman is pregnant with a child, there comes a point where we say that she is ‘showing’. The life growing inside her begins to grow and show on the outside. Likewise, the Bible says, ‘The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us’ (Romans 5:5 KJV). And John writes, ‘Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another’ (1 John 4:11 NKJV). Love; it’s the ultimate test of your discipleship.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.