Today's Verse: 1 John 4:20-21

Saturday, January 14, 2006

If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."
— 1 John 4:20-21

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Love! The word can mean anything. Many in the Christian community have tried to define it by a dictionary or lexicon, not realizing the key word for love, agape, is defined by action. Before Christians got a hold of agape, it meant the same thing our word today does: just about anything! But if you read 1 John, you see what love is by what God does. God demonstrates his love. He asks us to do the same for our brothers and sisters. Love must be more than talk; it must be genuinely demonstrated in action!

My Prayer...

Precious Father, you have so graciously shared your love with me. I must confess, in my heart I intend to love others as you do, but my intentions often get washed away with "busy-ness" or timidity. Father, through your Spirit, prompt me to show my love to others in actions rather than just thought and talk. Through Jesus, your greatest demonstration of love I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

14 Related Resources by Heartlight

1 John 4:20
Devo: Today's Verse
"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not...."
1 John 4:21
Devo: Daily Wisdom
"And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."
1 John 4:21
Devo: Today's Verse
"And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. "
1 John 4:21
Devo: Today's Verse
"And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love their brother and sister."
See All 14 Related Resources about 1 John 4:20-21

Illustration

Illustration of 1 John 4:20-21 — If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, January 14, 2006

Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'In the Name of the Lord!'
"Then he said, "Today I [Goliath] stand and dare the army of Israel! Send one of your men to fight me!" … For forty days the Philistine came out every...."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Attention to Teaching' (He. 2:1-4)
"Dear Father, Help me to pay close attention to all of your teaching, lest I drift away from it. How shall I escape if I neglect so great a salvation?..."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
James 4:13-15
"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know..."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'Want To Be Perfect?' (Mt. 19:21-22)
"Jesus told [the young man who said he had kept the commands of the law], "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the..."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

More Today's Verse