Got a Sign?

A few years ago, if you happened to pass through our neighborhood and rode down our street, you would have noticed a rather large yellow and red sign in our front yard that read, “FOR SALE BY OWNER” and in smaller letters underneath, “Brokers Protected.” It was there for one purpose…to let all who passed by know that we were trying to sale our home.

But it also lets those in the real estate business know that if they were to bring us a buyer, we would pay them a commission. Why is that important? Simply put, it increased our sales force and heightened our chances of selling our home.

Now, we could have tried to sell our home in a number of ways, but we started with the obvious; a sign in the front yard….and that brings me to our thought for today.

Each of us puts out a sign regarding our life each day…it tells others what we believe, in whom we believe and how we intend to live out those beliefs. Jesus shared that thought with His disciples that last night in the Upper Room when He said, “A new command I give you: LOVE ONE ANOTHER. As I have loved you, you must now love one another. By this (sign) all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (enclosure, my emphasis)

Jesus gave his disciples a parting command which if they followed would let the whole world know their intentions….it would tell everyone that they belonged to Jesus. This sign of loving others would let the entire world know that these men were committed to their Lord and Savior…..this would tell the world.... We Love Jesus!

The same holds true for us today. We let others know what we believe about Jesus by the way we love….not only those who are like us but even more, those with whom we differ. The sign that announces to a lost and hurting world that it is Jesus who lives and reigns in our heart is the outward manifestation of the love we show each other as Christians and the love we express to others….it’s just that simple!

If we love each other as Christ commanded on that last night, our love might just be the directional sign that points them to Jesus and to a life brand new. Think about it the next time someone ask you for a little bit of your time to help them with a problem or a project…love them by helping them and point them to Jesus. Or if someone is lost and feeling hopeless, lend an ear or open your purse strings …be a beacon of God’s love and let them know that God cares for them and sent His Son as a ransom for their redemption.

Yes, you can be a small yard sign or major billboard for Jesus ….the choice of obedience is yours….trust Jesus to teach you how to love unconditionally and become the sign that directs all you meet to come and know their Heavenly Father.

Choosing to Love….Signing Others to Jesus,

WPQ

Thought for the day:

More like Jesus that is my plea.
More like Jesus so others will see;
The love of my Savior flowing through me
More like Jesus is all I long to be.

WPQ @JULY 2005