Day 30 — By This Everyone Will Know

“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

— John 13:34–35 (BSB)

How can people tell that someone is a follower of Jesus?

You might think it’s by the cross necklace they wear. Or by the fact that they go to church. Or by how many Bible verses they know. Those things are good. But Jesus gave a different answer.

On the night before He died, Jesus sat at supper with His disciples, just after washing their feet. And He gave them a new commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.”

The commandment to love wasn’t new. But the standard was: “As I have loved you.” Not just love like normal people love. Love the way Jesus loves. Serving, sacrificing, forgiving, patient, kind. The kind of love that washes feet and goes to the cross.

Then Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” Love is how the world will recognize us. It’s like a family resemblance. When people see Christians loving each other and loving others the way Jesus does, they’ll say, Those people must belong to Jesus.

Look back at this whole book. That’s what we’ve been learning for 30 days. How to love your parents, your siblings and your family. How to be a true friend, choose friends wisely and welcome people who are left out. How to forgive, make peace, say sorry and even love your enemies. How to be part of God’s family at church, using your gifts, honoring older people, welcoming younger ones and carrying each other’s burdens. And how to love the whole world: every nation, the least of these, and everyone who hasn’t heard about Jesus yet.

It’s a lot! And none of us does it perfectly. But remember where love comes from: “As I have loved you.” You can love others because Jesus has loved you first. His love fills you up, like water filling roots, and then it flows out through your branches to everyone around you.

That’s what it means to branch out.

Think about it: Which day of this book challenged you most? What’s one person you want to love better because of it?

Try this: Look back at the tree you drew on Day 1. Add any new names to the branches. Then do one loving thing for someone on your tree today.

Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me so much. Help me love others the way You have loved me. Let my love for others show the world that I belong to You. Keep filling me with Your love, so it flows out to everyone around me. In Your name, Amen.