A NO-SMILING POLICY
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)
