GOD IS LOVE Devotion 30 of 34 "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?" (1 John 4:20, NKJV). JESUS' WORD TO PETER Before the betrayal of our Lord, He confided in Peter that Satan had asked to sift him. "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." The awfulness of that sifting required Christ's intervention. He continued, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." Knowing that His prayer would be effective, and that Peter would recover himself from the dreadful evening when he would thrice deny the Lord, Jesus directed Peter concerning his future activities: "and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Lk 22:31-32). He did not tell him to testify to the world, but to strengthen the brethren! You can effectively proceed from loving the brethren to preaching the Gospel to every creature. But there are precious few, if any, that are able to successfully move from reaching sinners to edifying saints. IF SOMEONE OR ANY MAN "If ANY MAN say, ‘I love God, and hateth his brother" (1 John 4:20). Here is a statement that no exceptions. Wherever a person can be found fitting this description, one who does NOT love God has been identified. "If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar." – Tomorrow:
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love . . . God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:9,16)
The Spirit will not let go of this matter. He will not allow us to imagine that we love God if we do not prefer and care for His people. Take care that "brethren," of the people of God, is not a synonym for members of a local congregation, or a specific sect of denomination. In saying "brother," our text refers to anyone and everyone God has accepted in Christ Jesus.
We cannot conduct ourselves toward the saints in a way conflicting with the manner of Jesus, and yet affirm that we love God. It is not possible to love God and despise His people at the same time! The very hour Saul of Tarsus confronted and believed on the living Christ, he forever ceased to persecute His people. From that moment on, and with unwavering consistency, he sought the betterment of believers everywhere. That is the calculated effect that loving God has upon a person.
Following His resurrection, Jesus confronted Simeon Peter. Under the sifting of Satan, Peter had denied Christ three times and had wept bitterly that he did. Early in the morning, Jesus came to His disciples, preparing them some food, and providing a miraculous catch of fish for them. After they had eaten, Jesus addressed Himself to Peter. He did not ask, "Will you obey Me?" Nor, indeed, did He ask, "Will you die for Me?" Instead, he asked three times, "Do you love me?" And after three affirmative responses, Jesus replied, "Feed My lambs," "Feed My sheep," and "Feed My sheep." That emphasis remains the same to this very day.
The word "hate," as you must know, means to love less, disregard, or have no real interest in. It speaks more of neglect than of harming or violence. It has more to do with not providing for, than taking from. It does covers everything from the person simply being indifferent to the brethren – i.e., the brethren of Jesus – to doing evil against them. In the case of the individual now considered, the people of God are simply not viewed as His people.
Is it possible for a person to affirm a love for God, and yet be indifferent to, and even harm, the people related to God? Indeed it is! That is why the Spirit compelled John to write this down.
Throughout history, from Abel until this very day, the greatest source of sorrow to the people of God has been those who profess to know God. Whether you consider Moses, the holy Prophets, the Lord Jesus, the holy Apostles, or Stephen the martyr, they have confronted the hatred of professed brethren. For myself, my greatest hurt and sorrow has come from professed Christians. In fact, such experiences are so common, we tend to overlook them. But the Spirit does not overlook them!
Our text goes straight to the point. Those who hate the brethren, yet profess to love God, have lied, their explanations notwithstanding. They do not love God, and thus have no affiliation with Him. The argument is strong and incontrovertible. It is stated with this truth in mind, that "the brethren" are partakers of Christ (Heb 3:14), and of the "Divine nature" (2 Pet 1:4). God is in them, and they are in God (4:16). Therefore the Spirit reasons, "for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"
The Spirit is not asking for an answer, for there is no acceptable answer to this question. The only tangible evidence we have of God is His people – those in whom He resides. If a man does not love them, it is BECAUSE he does not love God. His lack of attraction to, and appetite for, God Himself has produced an aversion to the people of God. The people of God and God Himself are joined together in Christ, and are always so viewed. It is not possible to make the matter more plain than that.
Any attempt to unite the people of God must eventually come to grips with the truth of this verse. Variance among brethren testifies to enmity with God, for there is simply no other way one can be at odds with His people. The presence of division within the church reveals a fundamental variance with the God of the church and the Christ who loved it and gave Himself for it. Men may profess a great love for God and allegiance to Him. However, if they lack a love for His people, they have lied in their profession, for the God they say they love is IN His people.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the privilege of loving both You and Your people. Help me to do so with dignity, faithfulness, and fervency.