“And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” – 1 John 4:21 (NIV)
Love can feel easy when it’s returned, when it’s safe, when it’s comfortable. But 1 John 4:21 pushes us deeper—it draws a bold connection between our love for God and our love for others. It doesn’t say “should” or “may.” It says must.
Why? Because love for God is not just a vertical affection—it must move horizontally into the world. It’s not confined to worship songs or quiet prayers. True love for God spills over into how we treat the people around us, especially the difficult ones.
This command feels simple, but it’s radical. It calls us to mirror the love we’ve received from God—undeserved, unconditional, unshakable—and extend it to people who may not return it, may not earn it, and may never understand it.
Loving others isn’t just an emotional response—it’s a spiritual act of obedience. It’s evidence that God’s love has truly taken root in our hearts.
But here’s the beauty: God never asks us to pour out what He hasn’t already poured in. He is the source. When we feel too tired, too wounded, or too empty to love others, He supplies what we lack. His Spirit enables us to forgive what seems unforgivable, to show kindness where there’s been hurt, to offer grace where there’s been silence.
Loving others—even those who have wronged us—isn’t about pretending pain doesn’t exist. It’s about choosing to act out of the love we’ve received rather than the wounds we’ve carried.
When we love our brothers and sisters—flawed, fragile, and sometimes frustrating—we declare with our lives that the love of God is real. We become the evidence of His goodness. We become the echo of His heart.
Prayer
Father, thank You for loving me when I was hard to love. Thank You for showing me grace I didn’t earn and mercy I still can’t comprehend. Help me to love others with the same kind of love You’ve shown me. Not by my strength, but by Your Spirit. Let my life reflect the reality of Your presence within me. Amen.
Today’s Reflection:
Is there someone God is calling you to love in a new or deeper way? Ask Him for the grace to do what feels hard, and trust that He will meet you in that obedience with power and peace.