Evidence of Love

 

“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

—1 John 4:20-21

Most followers of Jesus recognize that God’s love is expressed through His Son principally by Christ’s death on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. We also see countless examples in Scripture where Jesus directly showed His love for others in the most compassionate way.

If we are to be marked by this same love—breathed into us by the Holy Spirit—what evidence do we show that we love God and love others? I think I know the answer.

In his first letter to the new Christians scattered across the Middle Eastern landscape, the Apostle John wrote these words, as recorded in 1 John 4:20-21:

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

It seems clear that we show our love for God by loving our brothers and sisters in Christ. Once we have allowed the Holy Spirit to fill us with love for our fellow believers, He will then prompt us to allow that love to spill over so that it touches the lives of everyone who crosses our pathway.

We love because God first loved us. Could it possibly be that simple? Yes, I think it could.

 

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