Don't tell me Jesus loves me but show me in the way you love all His children including me.
Love is the essence of the gospel according to a conference talk by President Monson.
And Jesus said this about the commandments: "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22:37-40
And Jesus added only one commandment which was; 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
Jesus also taught to love our enemies and our neighbors.
But what is most striking to me is that He said "By this(Christ-like love) all will know that you are my disciples." And He said essentially that love of God and all His children are the foundation of all the commandments.
When we become the message we imbue that love within the hearts and minds of those we know and all those we meet.
To be the message of the gospel is to be the miracle we would like to see in the world. To be the Dr. King when he was needed. He didn't choose greatness, greatness was thrust upon him. When the civil rights era started many locals in Alabama went to their reverend for comfort but also guidance. Their local reverend was Dr. Martin Luther King.
He was an ordinary man with many faults and flaws who became great when he became the message of understanding, love and peace he wished to see.
We don't need to focus on great examples of great people as much as we need to become the gospel message. One person can make a difference but all of us could change the world by becoming the message.
Gandhi said "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
If we can't find the gospel in the world we can be the gospel. If we can't find christlike love we can feel Christs love transform us and thereby transform others.
Being the message is how we can build up the kingdom of God on Earth as it is in Heaven.
