But the fruit of the Spirit is love… – Galatians 5:22 (KJV)

I have a dear friend who said something rather profound recently. During a time in his life when he was not living for The Lord, students and staff at the school he used to work for would occasionally ask him this question, “Are you a Christian?” Some years later, after he returned to living for The Lord, he ran into one of his former students who asked him this question, “You’re a Christian, aren’t you?”

“The difference in these two questions,” said my friend, “is that ‘Are you a Christian?’ indicates that there is still some question in the other person’s mind as to whether or not I am a Christian. ‘You’re a Christian, aren’t you?’ indicates that the other person is pretty sure I am a Christian, and that person is just wanting to confirm what he or she is already confident of. The difference in the question is not due to the other person; it is due to me and whether or not I am walking with The Lord. If I’m walking with The Lord, it is pretty obvious that I’m a Christian. If I’m walking with the world, then there’s a big question in other people’s minds as to whom I serve.”

How can someone know – or at least suspect – that we are Christians? How we behave in everyday life is how. Most people outside of our family and of our church family will never see us reading our Bibles or praying to God. But they will have daily opportunities to see whether or not our character resembles that of Jesus Christ or, instead, that of a normal human being. There are many passages that deal with what Christian character looks like, two of which are found in John 13 and in Galatians 5. John 13:35 (AMP) states:

35 By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) states:

22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,

23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].

In the former passage, love for others is the sole evidence cited for the Christian character. In the latter passage, love for others is the evidence first mentioned, for love is the root character trait from which all of the others spring. In short, if we love God as we ought, we will love others as we ought, and the character traits associated with love will drive our behavior. Our behavior is what others will see from us each day, and as the old saying goes, “It’s not what you say but what you do that defines you.”

If you are having to tell others that you are a Christian because they cannot deduce that from your behavior, then there is something missing in your Christian walk. Take a good look in the mirror, and ask yourself this penetrating question: “Whom do my actions show others that I love? Myself, or God and others?” A great clue to the true answer is whether or not people ask you, “Are you a Christian?” or “You’re a Christian, aren’t you?”

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