Measuring a Genuine Christian

How are "obedience" and "love" accurate gauges for measuring a genuine Christian?

A Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Christ, and tries to live as he lived.  We cannot know a person's heart, only God and Jesus know those things.  So all we can see are what's shown on the outside.

"Love" seems to be the easy one to notice and identify.  You can know that someone loves you by the way they act towards you.  Showing kindness, a comforting word, help with chores, or being a listening ear when someone is going through a rough trial.

But now that I've written that, what about people who find it difficult to "show" love?  Does it mean they don't love you if they don't do those things?

I've decided no.  People show love the best way they know how.  If they are not talkers or communicative verbally, maybe they show love by working hard for their family every day.  Maybe they keep the yard presentable or shovel snow when it's needed.  Maybe they take care of home issues when they arise, and even though they don't talk to you much, they still love you very much.

Back to the question.  When someone shows love to another, either verbally or through service, they are serving Christ.  That is what He asked us to do.  Love each other.  If someone serves other people, he is being a disciple of Christ.

Obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel, and to the commandments, are another way to show discipleship.  It's hard to keep all of the commandments all of the time.  Honoring your parents when you don't agree with them.  Being truthful about every flaw you have casts YOU in a bad light.  Sometimes we slip because we don't want to be uncomfortable or embarrassed.

By trying every day, people can become more like our Savior.  We can never be like him all the way, by ourselves.  But that's not the point.  We try, and each try builds new or stronger connection synapses in our brains!  That makes it easier for us to do it again next time. (Can you tell I just read an article on brain synapses and forming habits...)

Love One Another

I'm reading the book Jesus the Christ, by Talmage. It was a "goal" last year, for 2009, but I only got through about 1/2 of it, so I extended it to finish at the end of this year, 2010.

Throughout Jesus' ministry, he taught Love. Love one another. If you love me, keep my commandments. The greatest commandment is to love God, and the next is to love thy neighbor as thyself. If I REALLY loved everybody else as much as I love myself, I would consider my neighbor's needs just as important as my own.

I would like to learn to see people as Jesus saw them. The Lord saw people as equal, all the same...he knew their hearts and judged them by what was in their hearts.

I don't have the privilege or responsibility to judge people...I can't know their hearts. So it is MY responsibility to love everyone. Assume the best in people. Treat them all with respect and love.

The lady I pass when I'm shopping. The impatient man who honks, in the car behind me. The checker in the grocery store. They are my brothers and sisters.

One of my favorite quotes, I don't know who said it: "People do the best they can, with what they have, at that moment." We are all trying.

How many times have I tried and come up short? How many times have I been rude or impatient? I can always rationalize for myself. There is always a good REASON for the way I act.

But what about my list of people I can't forgive? I can think of 3. Why can't I forgive them, and move on? Let it go. Because it was obvious they were wrong. Well, are they suffering because of my grudge and festering feelings? No. I am holding myself back by letting myself continue to wallow in the event of the past.