By this it is evident

who are the children of God,

and who are the

      children of the devil,

whoever does not

      practice righteousness

      is not of God,

nor is the one who

      does not love his brother.

                   1 John 3. 10

(In this volatile,

politically divisive culture,

what is obvious,,

      even to the secular world,

that a Christ-follower

      responds differently

      and loves deeply.

We are held to a higher bar.

Practicing righteousness

  means in biblical terms,

the state or character of a person

    who is as one ought to be,

acting and loving others in a way

   consistent with one's

           relationship with God,

marked by practicing integrity,

virtue, purity of life, rightness,

correctness of thinking,

           feeling and acting,

in a way pleasing to God.

It comes not from trying to

        earn God's approval,

but because we know

     we are loved by Him.)

O LORD,

We do not wear a badge

that marks us as believers,

but we bear Your love

   into this broken world.

Help us to both see

            and respond with love

   right in the midst of

   where we are.

Even in this mess.

Even when it would be

      easier to walk away.

May the love of Christ

    linger in our attitudes

and be manifest in our actions.

Let it be evident

   that we belong to You

by how we live, respond,

         and love,

even in impossible situations.