Jesus said, "This is my commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends."
--The Bible: John 15:12-13
(Revised Standard Version)
An American tourist traveling in Palestine was fond of telling of what he called "the miracle" at Nazareth. He was surrounded by the usual crowds of roadside merchants selling souvenirs. He felt that this yelling, pushing crowd everywhere was a terrible nuisance. But one woman surprised him. She said, "Buy something from the woman over there. She hasn't sold anything all day." Such love and sympathy was something new. He said, "Such unselfishness makes me believe in the love of Christ who grew up in Nazareth." Our unselfish acts do more to convince onlookers of the reality of the love of God than many words could do.
Help us to remember, O God, that it is by our acts that we bear witness to thy love. Amen.
--Halford E. Luccock in his book 365 Windows (1960),
a collection of 2-minute meditations for daily use
