Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 1 John 4:20
All over the world there is constant talk about love and hate. It is common for people to talk about loving their friends or family, but at the same time hating their enemies. As this occurs, it is common to hear many talk about the need for everyone to love everyone.
Justification is often given as to why someone loves or hates someone else.
John says that any person who claims to love God, but hates his family is a liar. One cannot love God and hate his brother at the same time.
Every believer in the church is very quick to say that he loves God. Loving God is a given thought for any person in the church. There are probably very few people who regularly attend church that would ever claim that they do not love God.
Yet, out of that same group of people, there are many who claim that there is someone whom they hate. It may be family members, co-workers, some politician, a group of people, or someone else, but there is usually someone they hate. They would love to see that person or persons removed from the earth or at least from their life.
When people hate someone this way, they do not really love God. They are lying about loving God. Everything about God is love because, the only thing He hates is sin and the effects of sin in the lives of people.
To love God, one must love everyone else. It is not love one and hate the other, but both together. If one hates one, he hates the other.
If there is someone in your life that you hate, you must seek God to change your heart to one of love. God is all about love. He loved you when you still hated Him. Do not allow yourself to hate those whom God loves.
Realize that God made everyone and wants to save everyone out of His great love for them. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the love of God so that you may be able to love your enemies as God loves them. Do not allow yourself to be a liar, but love both God and people.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know God’s love for you and others; that you will love as God loves you; that you will live in truth of God’s love; and that God will strengthen you to love your enemies.
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