Usually
we’re told to smile before someone takes our picture. But in some parts of the
US, a no-smiling policy is enforced when getting your photo taken for a
driver’s license. Because of identity theft, these motor vehicle departments
carefully check new photos that are taken to be sure they don’t match photos
already in the system. If someone gets a picture taken under a false name, an
alarm is sent to the operator. From 1999 to 2009, one state stopped 6,000
people from getting fraudulent licenses. But why no smiling? The technology
recognizes a face more easily if the person has a neutral facial expression.
Jesus
prescribed a good way to recognize a Christian. He told His disciples, “By this
all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). The
ways to show love to fellow believers are as endless as there are people with
needs: a note of encouragement, a visit, a meal, a gentle rebuke, a prayer, a
Bible verse, a listening ear, even just a friendly smile.
The
apostle John wrote, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we
love the brethren” (1 John 3:14). Can
others recognize, by our care for fellow Christians, that we know and love the
Lord?
One
measure of our love for God
is how much we show love to His children. (RBC)
is how much we show love to His children. (RBC)
