I John 4:20
“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?”
Lord Jesus summed up the whole of Old Testaments commandments into two commandments when He was asked the question “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. – Matthew 22:37-40
But the more we meditate on 1 John 4:20, we come to realize that these two commandments are more like two sides of a coin. We cannot claim to have fulfilled one without fulfilling the other. We will be considered “liars” if we claim to do so. This is where the parable of Good Samaritan comes as a great reminder. The spiritual elites tried to showcase their love for God through their religiosity. But God appreciated the Samaritan Man, who kept his differences aside and went out of His way to help and take care of a Jewish man who desperately needed help.
In reality, the fragrance of God’s love is spread through simple people like you and me who go out of our way to help someone, to encourage someone, to forgive someone, to pray for someone.
While man looks at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart. Let’s keep our heart pure towards others, getting rid of every hate and bitterness. And make use of every opportunity to go out of our way and show God’s love to others. That’s the only way we can prove that we truly love God.
