Am I a Christian?

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” 2 John 1:6
“A brother asked one of the Elders: 'There are two brothers of whom one remains praying in his cell, fasting six days at a time and doing a great deal of penance. The other takes care of the sick. Which one's work is more pleasing to God?' The Elder replied: 'If that brother who fasts six days at a time were to hang himself up by the nose - he could not equal the one who cares for the sick.'” Aidan Readings, June 29, Celtic Daily Prayer
We can become involved in all sorts of programs and efforts on a corporate scale; church-driven social action and “mission” . . . BUT, what do our individual lives look like? Are we feeding and clothing the poor in a personal (Jesus) way? Are we reaching out to the destitute we encounter each day? Are we where Jesus would be?!
“Church” is the Body of Christ, (at least Biblically speaking.) It is people following Jesus into the dark places of our world to shine His light and love. It’s not Sunday morning in a building, (though that’s a small part of it.) It’s meeting a need that’s “right under our noses”.
If Christ is being formed in us, then we should begin to look like it, like Him, in our personal daily lives . . . at work, as school, in our neighborhoods and community . . . as individuals we should be known by our love. Granted, brokenness in the world is overwhelming to us, but it is embraced by God. It is only through His strength and Grace that we are enabled to be instruments of His love and healing.
So, begin to live the simple Gospel life, and find Jesus “right under your nose”. All those other things may be good, but “they will know we are Christians by our love.”
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.