Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
- 1 John 4:20-21

John won’t entertain the possibility that someone can love God and hate a brother or sister. In this he echoes the teaching of Jesus that his followers will be known by the way they love one another. Love is our distinguishing characteristic.

All year long this conviction shapes our life together. We respond to the love of God by singing songs of love to and about him. We listen with loving ears to the Bible and our brothers and sisters. We pray with love, hold babies with love, serve donuts with love, welcome guests with love, park cars with love, visit the sick with love. In every corner of our community and in every day of every week of every year, love fills our church.

Chatham Serves is one more way that love fills our church. Love runs over the banks and spills out beyond our buildings. And it’s beautiful.

Don’t let conflict with a brother or sister stop the overflow of God’s love in you. Apologize. Forgive. Reconcile or release. Be wise but don’t let your boundaries bury you.

In today’s passage, John makes the challenging claim that hate for one brother or sister will keep us from loving God. Harboring hate will spoil your love.

Where do you need to forgive or apologize in order to be free to fully love God and others? Who can you ask to help you?