Liar

When I looked at 1 John 4:20, I was taken aback by its bluntness:  “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.”

It confronted me with a harsh truth…that’s me at times.

And that quickly gave way to conviction…I can do better.

It’s so easy for any of us to appear righteous, and yet all of us may in some ways be bitter and judgmental towards others.

But according to this verse, loving others isn’t optional, it’s essential in faith.  It’s the visible testimony of our love for the Lord:

“Liar”

I go to church, I pray out loud,
I love the Lord, I say it proud,
I boast about my righteousness,
I flaunt my ways, my holiness,
I chastise others, in His name,
I judge their acts, and cause them shame,
I preach His love to everyone,
I see their pain, their needs I shun.

One day, though, God’s words broke through,
To “love others like I loved you,”
I looked inside and was ashamed,
For hate, not love, my heart proclaimed,
I saw the liar I had been,
And asked forgiveness for my sin,
I asked to love all those I see,
To share the love God has shown me.

I see now clearly what it means,
To love our God who is unseen,
For loving Him is loving others,
Multitudes of sins it covers,
Not words alone, but what I do,
Reflects that love to others who
Can then see God through love not hate,
And be welcomed to mercy’s gate.

***

I find myself asking…is my love for the Lord truly reflected in my love for others?

Sometimes, yes, but many times certainly not.

This verse is transformative in practice, moving us from arrogance to humility, from judgment to mercy, from criticism to compassion, from disdain to love.

I pray that we each may love more fully, so others can see God’s love flowing through us, and then also be drawn to the One who first loved us.

Stan