We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” but 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 we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well. – 1 John 4:19-21
Can you really love God without loving others? Scripture reminds us that the two cannot be separated. To love the Lord is also to love the people He has placed in our lives.
God’s Love Leads Us to Love Others
We love God because He first loved us and showed His great love through Jesus Christ. Out of that love, He commands us to love one another. If we refuse to love others, we are not living as His children. Our love for people is one of the clearest signs of our obedience to Him.
The Evidence of a Changed Heart
When God’s Spirit is at work in us, it becomes visible through how we treat others. Genuine love is shown in both our actions and our motives. People may not see God directly, but they can see His presence revealed in the way we care for one another. Love makes His character visible in a way words alone cannot.
Love That Reflects God’s Nature
To love God and to love others is not optional, but inseparable. This is how we reflect the heart of our Father and the example of Christ. When we love our brothers and sisters, we are living out the truth of the gospel, showing the world that God’s love has truly transformed us.
Loving God and loving others go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other, and together they show the world who He is.