1 John 4:20 says, 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. This is a thought-provoking scripture by which we all should examine ourselves.
Do we harbor bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness toward anyone? Do we loathe anyone? Are we divisive and mean-spirited? If that is so, the word of God is challenging our professions of loving Him. Regardless of what we say, how we sing praises and worship, how many scriptures, we read, if we hate our brothers and sisters, Jesus boldly calls us liars!
In Matthew 22:36-40, when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He responded, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
Let us examine ourselves and focus throughout this month and going forward to forgive, have compassion and truly love others. How do we know what that looks like? The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
How can we achieve this when it is often so hard? We have to seek the counsel of our loving heavenly Father to do so for it is supernatural to love everyone, particularly those with whom we have bad experiences. And while we are yielding to Him and allowing Him to work in us, be confident that He still loves us and cares for us.
We pray that February is a month of love and spiritual growth for you and for those of you who have lost someone dear to you recently, we extend our love and compassion to you.