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1 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, 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.


Here is another verse to go along with today's devotional verse.

  • Matt 22:36-40 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 "This is the first and great commandment. 39 "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."


    • "Now wait a minute Steve, I know where you are going with this one. Just forget it; you don't know what he/she has done to me. I have a right to be angry and hate this person."

    The right you have is in your own mind, but is it justified in God's word? Search the bible and find out before you justify your self-anger.
    Now don't tune me out just yet until you have read the rest of today's devotional.

    I remember reading an E-mail from someone who just hated her husband. All she wanted was to be away from him, and not just him but people too. This person just wanted to be alone with God and forget about everyone else. She couldn't love her husband and refused to even try any longer. Yet she called herself a Christian and would say that she loved God.

    Jesus also said:

  • John 13:35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."


    • So putting it all together, if we are to love God with all that we have, but have hatred towards a brother or sister, husband or wife, then we truly don't love God. In fact as it says in verse 20 of today's devotional: If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar.
    Wow, those are pretty powerful words from John.

  • Luke 10:29 & 36-37 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
    36 "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."


    • Next time you feel or have hatred for someone you must say that you no longer love God. Because if you do have hatred for someone and say you love God, then you are a liar!

    So what do you do if you have hatred for someone?
    Jesus has the answer for you.

  • Matt 6:14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.


  • Matt 5:23-24 23 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.


    • Jesus says to go and reconcile with that person.
    Seek their forgiveness for your anger or hatred towards them. You may find out that you had anger or hatred wrongfully. Or they may not have even known that they have made you feel that way.
    What ever happens Jesus says to be reconciled with them, or as it says in the Living Bible "apologize and be reconciled" to them.

    To reconcile is to restore friendship with someone. You may not feel like restoring friendship with this person. Ask the Lord to change your heart and to allow you to see that person through His eyes.
    Or better yet, ask the Lord to see yourself through His eyes.

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