Showing Christian love to others is probably the most important way to witness. Jesus said Love one another, they will know that you are Christians by your love.
Different people show love in different ways, and different people receive love in different ways. For example, there are many ways of showing love to others:
- Doing things for others – serving.
- Giving gifts
- Spending quality time with others
- Words of affirmation
- Physical touch – hugs etc (make sure this is in an appropriate way!)
Showing love is important
As a Christian with non-Christian friends it is a challenge to show love to them, but showing love is probably more important than the words of witness that you say to them. Non-Christians constantly watch Christians to see if their lives measure up to their standard of being a Christian. Usually non-Christians have extremely high standards of what a Christian should be, and are quick to judge as a hypocrite any Christian who falls short of the standard.
Obeying God
You need to make sure that you are
living your life as God requires you to. Obeying Him in your daily life, and whilst you do not need to worry whether or not you meet your friends’ standard of what a Christian is, you do need to make sure that you are not a stumbling block to any of them.
Treat them as you would like them to treat you
Jesus said that the second commandment was to love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:39). If you want to show love to your non Christian friends, treat them as you would like them to treat you. If they are having problems, ask God to show you how you can help support and encourage them, just as you would like them to do for you. If they have a need that you are able to meet, ask God how to help you to meet that need in a way that they can accept and appreciate. “
In everything you do, do all to the glory of God” 1 Corinthians 10 verse 31 and 32. No doubt caring and showing love to your friends will cause them to appreciate you more, but pray that in all of these things God may be glorified, so that every act will be a stepping stone for them in coming to know God for themselves.
As well as practically caring for and serving your friends, another way to love them to the tell them the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that they too may hear and believe in the gospel and receive the gift of spiritual life from God.
