Why Our Actions Toward People Show Our True Feelings for God
1 John 4:20 says that if someone claims they love God, but at the same time hates another person (like a brother, sister, or anyone), they’re not telling the truth. Whether they mean to or not, their actions don’t match their words. The verse explains that if we can’t show love to the people right in front of us—people we see and interact with—then how could we really love God, whom we have never seen?
This is actually pretty straightforward when you think about it. It’s easier to care about someone you see every day than someone you’ve never met. If you can’t even treat your neighbor, friend, or family member with kindness, it doesn’t make sense to say you love God. Why? Because God wants us to show love to others as a way of showing our love for Him.
So, what’s the point here? It’s not just about what we say or believe—it’s about what we do. Real love for God shows up in how we treat the people around us. If we act with hatred or hold grudges, but still say we love God, the Bible says that’s not genuine. The love we show to people we know is proof of the love we have for God.
In simple terms: Loving God and loving others go hand in hand. If we want our love for God to be real, it should be obvious in the way we care for those around us, especially when it’s hard. That’s how our actions prove our words.
Minister A Francine Green I July 2025
afrancinegreen.com 