“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” – John 13:35

Peter Scholtes was an associate pastor working with the youth of his church.  He had organized a youth choir that rehearsed in the basement of the church.  Peter wanted the youth choir to sing at an upcoming ecumenical event in his city but he struggled to find the right song.  The song needed to be appropriate for the event which would draw people from different Christian traditions and different racial backgrounds.  He also needed a song that would fit the skills and abilities of his choir.  Peter’s search for a song proved fruitless, so he decided to write a song for his basement youth choir.  His song began with a simple idea found in the Gospel of John chapter 13, verse 35.

From that verse he composed, “We are One in the Spirit”

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord; 

We are one int he Spirit, we are one in the Lord; 

And we pray that all unity will one day be restored. 

Chorus: And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love. 

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand; 

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand; 

And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land. 

We will work with each other, we will work side by side; 

We will work with each other, we will work side by side; 

And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride. 

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come; 

And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son. 

And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one. 

Friends, as a church, we will impact the lives of others by our love.  Today, you as a follower of Christ, will have an opportunity to pray for unity, to advocate for someone else’s dignity, and/or to testify to the victory of grace.  Today, the love we share will make the presence of God tangible and true in the life of another.  Yes, they will know we are Christians by our love.