1 JOHN 4:20-21

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2007

DON’T BREAK THE CIRCLE, EXPAND IT

20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.  1 John 4:20-21 (NKJV)

The majority of Biblical Scholars agree that the John who writes this Epistle is the same St. John who wrote the fourth Gospel. This is the sixteenth of a series of Devotions on the First Epistle of John. Previous devotions can be found in the Archives. It is my hope that as we meditate on St. John’s Epistle, where the keynote is Love, that together we can grow in our Love of God.

St. John once again speaks to what is an automatic response if you love God. He simply says, If you love God, you must love your brother also. It is not a matter of having to love, being forced to love, or being enticed to love your brother. If you live in God’s Love, you will have such a strong desire to love your brother that it will not make any difference what your brother has done to you.

God’s Love gives us no choice. We must mend fences, not tear them down. We must build bridges, not dig deep trenches. We must live to give God’s love, not give to earn the world’s love. We must expand the circle of those who Love God, not be the one who breaks it.

WE PRAY: LORD, Help me to know and rejoice in the fact that you love me just as I am; then help me to do the same to others.

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

Select one person who you are in regular contact with, but do not like. Pray for that person every day.