Agents of Love

Very rarely do you see a contentious debate between religious scholars and atheists that results in the conversion of a new Christian. It’s not that it doesn’t happen, but what usually turns a person’s heart to God is the building of personal relationships. It is the day-to-day actions, examples, and intentions of a Christian that make the difference.

Consider most people’s testimony of faith – it usually begins with a person. This person brought me to a retreat, this person was really kind to me at work, or this person was the most hospitable neighbor on our street. Those seemingly small actions make the biggest impact. And if you were to summarize all of those actions into one virtue, it would be love.

We are agents of love. God has made us to represent him as ambassadors on the earth, and the way we show that is through loving actions and hearts. You see this all over the New Testament, most notably when Jesus issues a new command in the book of John:

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

To love as Christ loved us is to love without expectation and to put concern for others above all else. For it is through this love that we are to be known to the world, that people would look at our lives and wonder what’s different. We are to be the shining light in the world because our motivation in everything is love, just as the apostle Paul says: “the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

*References from John 13:34-35 and 1 Timothy 1:5