October 18, 2023

LOVE CONQUERS/HATE DESTROYS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.

1 John 4:20-21 NLT

---

TODAY’S THOUGHT

John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, reminds us we can’t claim to love God and hate a fellow believer. He tells us, “Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.” What if those believers worship style is different from mine? What if they dress different? What if their skin color is different? The answer is always the same—love them. There are sometimes people who are hard to love. This is often due to trauma or hurt in their lives that make it difficult for them to accept love. Other times people struggle with life choices and issues that make it difficult to show them love. I have had many times when I pray and ask God to help me see people the way He does. As a follower of Jesus I am constantly asking the Holy Spirit to give me eyes that see people the way God does. Have you ever noticed how a parent will often see their child through rose colored glasses? The parent believes that they can sing when they can’t. They think they are a super athlete when they aren’t. Our Heavenly Father sees the best in us—and it is the truth. He doesn’t make up something about us that is false. He sees us through realistic eyes, also He sees what we can be, not just what we have been. I believe the more we fall in love with our Heavenly Father the more we will want to love His children. Love conquerors past trauma and hurt. Love conquerors all. Hate destroys all.

---

TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit help me see people the way You see them. Show me their potential and value. Heal me of anything in my life that makes it hard for me to accept love and give love.

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”