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Read: 1 John 4:19-21
Listen: 1 John 4

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. 1 John 4:20

John knows the brokenness of the world results in people treating each other poorly. However, John makes it clear that’s not how people should treat one another in the church. He says if someone treats another person poorly inside the church, it makes them a liar when they say they love God. It’s another test of faith. John knows this is significant because he heard Jesus say that how believers treat each other will be how unbelievers know whether someone is a follower of Jesus or not (John 13:34-35). Believers can be confident their faith is real as they start treating others in the church community with love.

It’s so easy to be critical and mean. Sometimes, it’s like we are looking for reasons to be offended. But that’s not the way of Jesus. One of the fruits of the Spirit is forbearance (Galatians 5:22-23), patiently bearing with those in our church community when we would rather turn against them. When we struggle to love a fellow believer, we must remember what God has done for us, pray for that person’s wellbeing, ask God to change our heart and look for opportunities to selflessly serve them. It doesn’t mean we don’t ever get upset. It means we don’t stay angry or bitter. We focus on what we have in common instead of where we may disagree.

TODAY: Focus on someone you have a hard time loving in our church community. Remind yourself of what God did for you and them, pray for them, ask God to change your heart and look for an opportunity to serve them.