I declared that all men would know that you were my disciples by the way you loved one another. This leaves open the question of who is ‘one another’. Do you read this and assume that it refers to love between fellow believers? But a similar question was posed to me about who is my neighbor? My response indicated that you should be more rather than less inclusive regarding the type of people you should help. In like manner I suggested that there would be no reward in heaven for helping those who could help you in return. Don’t sinners help those within their own group?

I told you to love one another, and you understand correctly that love is the central feature of your faith. What do you think love consists of? Do you see it as warm fuzzy feelings of affection and goodwill? But my word tells you that if you tell your hungry brother to be filled and blessed, how does that help him if you don’t do something about it? And so you are instructed to love not in word only, but also in deed. If words are an inadequate expression of love, then how much less mere thoughts? So love is not demonstrated in your thoughts, but in how you spend your time.

Have you ever had anyone else make you feel small? People can act in a way to inflate themselves at the expense of others, and you know how this feels if you have been on the receiving end. Are there any other experiences that make you feel small? What about going to the mountains or canyons or coastline? The vastness of my creation can give you a true perspective and make you feel small, but here it is affirmation rather than rejection. The Psalmist looked to the hills and knew his help came from me.

What type of people do you prefer to keep company with? If you are a believer, then you probably enjoy the company of fellow believers and call this fellowship. Yet you also prefer the company of people who are kind rather than those who are mean. If your fellow believers are kind then this is an easy choice, but not all believers are. I am willing to take everyone, and you know those who call upon my name in whom my work is not complete. Does this put you in a dilemma? Do you prefer the company of believers who are mean or unbelievers who are not? Who prefers your company?