1John 4:19-21
We love because he first loved us. 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. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Although this passage talks about love for brother and sister, to me it seems to be referring to siblings in the sense of fellow believers or maybe even neighbors. But does that matter? Not really. The message is to love others, and a reminder; if we profess to love God, we are expected to love our brothers and sisters, who are here on this earth. God created us to love. "We love because he first loved us." I could show my brothers (actual siblings) more love. God put us together in one family for a reason, and since becoming adults we have scattered.
Holy Lord, help me to find ways to show my own brothers that I love them. They are my family for a reason. Help me to love them as you have taught me. Amen
Becky, transforming
pic by Kathleen C
1 John 4:19-21
As I read this over a few times this morning, the line of a song came to my mind. “The love between my brothers and my sisters.” It is from a Peter, Paul and Mary song, “If I had a Hammer.” I searched for the lyrics and enjoyed singing the song. The last verse ends with”it’s the song about love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land. We need to promote more love toward each other. We need to find more things that make us the same, not the things that are different!
Prayer: Gracious God. May I always sing the song about love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land…
Love for family
Wednesday October 18th, 2023
1 John 4:19-21
We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
God loved me before I was even born, before I was capable of loving Him. I often struggle with the greatest commandment we have from him, saying whoever loves God must also love his brother. Whenever I am associated with any person I feel uncomfortable with I say my breath prayer, Lord I…
1John 4:19-21 When one feels unloved, they tend to drift into behaviors that indeed make them difficult to love, a self-fulfilling prophecy. Perhaps the most important act of love we can share is convincing such a person they are loved by God. It is out of this revelation that love for others can grow. Conviction that one is loved by God sparks reciprocal love of God and opens the door to giving and receiving love with the brothers and sisters put in our lives.
Prayer - Gracious God, Your unfailing, everlasting and unconditional love is the model for living in harmony with my brothers and sisters. Forgive my mean use of this precious gift and let me learn to properly apply…
With the wars that are going on in our World today it is very hard for me to love my brothers.. this passage is a real struggle, liar is a strong word and I do truly love God.. so personally I need help understanding this as even in my own sibling there’s struggles going on.
Dear God, as I struggle today with these scriptures please open my eyes ears and heart to listen learn and understand. Amen