Thursday; November 14

          It is hard to believe it was forty years ago that I sat in those teenaged devotionals back in south Florida and west Texas.  It seems like it was only yesterday that we sat around in people’s homes or around a campfire and sang what we called “devo songs”.  (I also have a hard time believing that those songs have become “traditional Christian music” that the younger generations view as being archaic.  Wow, I guess I am old!) 
          Last Sunday morning we sang one of these songs in our worship service, “They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love”.  Not only did it give me a ride in the way-back machine, it got me to thinking about things from my modern perspective.  One verse that got me to thinking was, “We will work with each other, we will work side by side - we will work with each other, we will work side by side – and we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each other’s pride – and they will know we are Christians by our love, by our love – they will know we are Christians by our love.”.  When I sang that song back in the day, I don’t know that I fully understood what they meant; but, it really struck a special chord with me at my age an in today’s world.
          According to some limited research, “They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love” was written by Peter Scholtes in the 1960s.  The source stated that Scholtes was inspired by two things:  A phrase that the non-Christians used to describe the early Christians, “Behold, how they love one another” and Jesus statement recorded in John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”.  I can’t vouch for the truth of the research, but whether it is true or not, they are both accurate reminders of the importance of love in Christianity.
          Let’s make sure that we cooperate with each other to preserve each other’s dignity and pride.  When we do, the world won’t help but be able to know us for our love!
         Think About It!

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