14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. 15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.
16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.
Actions
Let me start out by addressing the first part of today’s passage. The fact is that not only do murderers not have eternal life within them, but neither does anyone who has not turned their life over to God. I say that because I know some who like to relegate certain sins to a higher level than other sins. John isn’t doing that here. In fact, he’s doing the opposite. He’s trying to show that hatred is no different than murder. Both are sin because both pull you away from loving God and loving others.
But John is trying to drive home a point here. If you walk by that homeless person and show zero concern or compassion, then are you truly loving God and loving others? When you hear of an earthquake in another part of the world and simply shrug your shoulders and go about your happy existence, are you really loving God and loving others? If you curse that cop under your breath or think something nasty about the person of a different culture, are you really loving God and loving others? If you are only loving God and others on your terms … then are you really loving God and others?
Perhaps those questions help us understand even more what John was talking about the other day when he said that others would hate us in the same way that Cain hated Abel. You see, loving God and loving others requires an action on our part that takes us out of our comfort zone. It requires a willingness to step out and do things that are not always easy or fun to do.
But you can’t love God and love others without a willingness to get uncomfortable.
My prayer: Lord, I want to go wherever you call me to go and to love whomever you bring across my path. And yet, if I’m honest, there are times I fail miserably at doing just that. So, give me strength and a deeper desire to put action to my love for you. Amen.
Until tomorrow.
