As I was preparing to teach one weekend, I ran across an old story about the 20th century violin virtuoso, Fritz Kreisler. Setting out from Hamburg, Germany, one day to give a concert in London, he had an hour before his boat sailed. He wandered into a music shop, where the proprietor asked if he might look at the violin Kreisler was carrying. He then vanished and returned with two policemen, one of whom told the violinist, “You are under arrest.”
“What for?” asked Kreisler.
“You have Fritz Kreisler’s violin.”
“I am Fritz Kreisler,” protested the musician.
“No you’re not. Come along.”
As Kreisler’s boat was sailing soon, there was no time for prolonged explanations. Kreisler asked for his violin and played a piece he was well known for. “Now are you satisfied?” He asked.
The policemen let the musician go because he had done what only Fritz Kreisler could do.
If you are a follower of Christ... did you know that there’s something that you can do that is unique to being a believer? Something you can do that the world doesn’t understand? What is it?
The Bible puts it this way: “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.” John 13:34-35
Love. Real genuine love. Christ demonstrated this “Agape” love... even to those that were hurting Him emotionally and physically. It’s not the “I love you let’s get married” kind of love.. or even the love a parent has for a child. This is deeper love. Unconditional love. “Loving your enemies” kind of love. It’s the type of feeling that transcends typical emotional response and dares to change the world.
It’s our identifier as believers. Our calling card. It’s what we should be known to have and to give away with great and unexplainable frequency. If we are believers, love should be our default reaction even when the rest of the world wouldn’t.
So many people characterize Christians as judgmental, closed-minded, and out-of-touch. While these sweeping generalizations are far from truthful... wouldn’t it be great if we were known for the way we love others? To care for and protect those that the world has turned it’s back on? To hug the outcasts? To reach out to those that have made mistakes?
It shouldn’t be hard to tell we’re Christian. And not because we wear a cross, or carry a Bible, or have a few scriptures memorized... It should be because we love Christ first and, in turn, are loving, caring, kind, and understanding even in the face of great adversity or persecution. Love is something everyone says they can do... but true students of the Savior do it when everyone else turns away.
Be who you were created to be... rescue those God puts in your path... do what only a Christ-follower can...
Care for others with the heart of God...
See others through the eyes of God...
and love others because He first loved you.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
