Irresistible By Andy Stanley - 6-Day Reading PlanSýnishorn

Doing Makes the Difference 

John witnessed grace and truth in motion. It was powerful. It eclipsed the evil and violence that characterized the ancient world. It was John’s three-year adventure with Jesus, not what he saw around him, that led him to conclude that God is love. 

It was Jesus’ closing comments in the upper room dialogue that led John to conclude that those who claim to love God must love those God loves. For John’s readers who wanted (or want) to add to, qualify, or “what about” his loophole-proof imperative for maintaining fellowship with God, he doubles down:

For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. (1 John 4:20)

“Cannot love God”?

That’s strong.

“Cannot” is a reference to opportunity, not ability. To refuse to love a brother or sister is to forgo the opportunity to love God.

John placed little value on feelings of love and appreciation for God—and understandably so. He watched Jesus bleed to death. Jesus didn’t pay for sin via fond feelings and heartfelt compassion. John’s sins cost Jesus his life. It was Jesus’ sacrificial display of love that paved the way for John’s sins to be erased. For John, undisplayed love was no love at all. He says:

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters . . . Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:16, 18)

For John, Paul, and Jesus, loving people is loving God. Not because people are God, but because they are loved by God. Refusing to actively love a brother or sister is tantamount to refusing to love God. Under the new covenant, we do not love God and love our neighbors. Under the new covenant, we love God by loving our neighbors. 

For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. (1 John 4:20)

It’s not the religious hoops we jump through, the prayers we pray, the sins we’ve confessed, or even the Communion crackers we’ve consumed that demonstrate our love for the Father. It’s far less complicated than that.

Application: Show love to God by displaying love to a friend, co-worker, or family member.