All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. John 1335 it happens all the time. I'll be shopping at target when out of nowhere some lady runs up to me and says, excuse me, do you work here? What's that all about anyway? Do I look like I work there? Is it the way I comb my hair? Is it the clothes I wear? What is it about me exactly that says ask me because I work here? This happens so often that I'm tempted to wear a flashing button that reads no, as a matter of fact I do not work here. Dont misunderstand. Im certainly not implying that theres anything wrong with working at target, and im not offended when it happens. Its just funny. I usually just smile and politely tell the lady that im sorry, but no, I dont work there. Only rarely have I played along pretending to work there when I dont. So whats the point of this tale of mistaken identity? Just if you are a Christian, do people mistakenly see you as something else? What signals do you give off that help people know what you are and what you arent? Its good to be a Christian and know it, but its better to be a Christian and show it. I don't know who said that, but I agree with it. I don't mean that we should plaster bumper stickers all over our cars or walk around wearing t shirts that say, hey, look at me, I'm a Christian. But our attitudes and our language and our behavior should leave no doubt that we are followers of Christ. Jesus said that we christians show others that we are his disciples by loving each other. Nobody will believe us when we say how much we care about our neighbor across the street or down the block or in some far off place until they see how much we care about those in our own house. Genuine compassion begins at home, so to speak. Others will know that we are truly christians if we love each other. I might be mistaken as an employee at Target, but I never want to be mistaken as something less than a follower of Christ.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of community Christian church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to dailythoughtspodcastmail.com dot. Have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.