“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.“ John 13:34–35

Manifesting love is also a sign that we belong to God. Let us not forget that God is love, and the essence of our testimony must be based on love. It is important to show love to our family members for several reasons:

• Love opens hearts. When you are able to show the people around you that they are truly loved by you, they will not hesitate to trust you, take an interest in you, and even in the things that matter to you. Believe me, just because someone is part of your family doesn’t mean they automatically feel loved by you. That’s why you should intentionally show true, sincere, and selfless love to your family members.
• A person who feels loved also feels valued and honored. Everyone needs to feel loved and appreciated.
• Love casts out fear. People who feel loved are not afraid to trust others. If you succeed in showing love to the members of your family, they will feel so loved that they will trust you and won’t be afraid to accept what you offer them.

Your testimony will come at a cost.

The price of a life is a life. Jesus Himself paid the price of His life so that we could have life in Him. There is always a price to pay. There is no victory without sacrifice. You too will have to make sacrifices—whether personal, financial, or material.

In my case, I have often purchased Christian resources for my family members, paid for transportation so some could attend retreats and meet other Christians. Joyfully accept to pay the price for your family members!..

This text is an excerpt from the book “9 Keys to Winning Your Family to Christ” written by Francine CHEUMBOU.

We invite you to read the next article: “What Are the Characteristics of ‘Family Influencers’?”