1st John 4:20-21
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [d]how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
Quickword: A Command To Love
Over the years, I have come across some people who just work my last nerve. I’m sure I’ve done the same to others. Yet this text in 1st John, scripture tells us that if we confess to love God, there is a commandment that we must love our brother as well. What strikes me about this text is that the writer clearly points out that if we Love God, it’s not a suggestion or a recommendation but it is a commandment that we MUST love our brother as well.
If someone says that they love God and hate his brother, he is a liar.
He cannot love his brother whom he has seen and love God whom he has not seen.
The commandment of God is that we must love our brother.
Love is more than a word. Love is an action. As believers in Christ, we are family and we are commanded to love one another. This command does not say we only love those who are like us. If we truly love God we must love each other. The love of our brothers and sisters is not limited, we must move beyond race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, and political affiliation. Love will cause us to work towards reconciliation, love will force us to care for the least among us. Love will led us to sharing our resources; no child should go to bed hungry, no person should have to sleep without shelter, no person should be unable to receive healthcare. This task is too great for one person, yet if we love God, we must love our brothers as well. This is a call for us to make a difference where we are. Love is sacrificial! We have the greatest example in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for you and I, why because of the love of God. Today, heed the commandment of God, he or she who confesses to love God must love his brother and sister as well.
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