1 John 4:20-21

1 John 4:20-21

- "Whoever loves God and claims he hates his brother or sister is a liar"

This is one of my favorite Bible verses to reflect on and to think on. It's a Bible verse I feel very strongly about and it definitely needs to be heard (like the whole of the Bible.)

Why? Because through hate of neighbor and even yourself, we sin.

Sin and hate is normalized by the world and almost all people don't seem to care at all. And it hurts me.

In school, before mass started, I accidentally overheard a conversation. Well, I didn't get all the details or whatever she said because I don't want to. But I heard her insult a girl by saying swear words, calling her ugly, and other names that no one would appreciate being called.

She wasn't talking about me but hearing the stuff she said made my heart ache and it made me thought how she'd react if someone called her mean names behind her back. And it made me think how Jesus feels knowing all about this and the fact that this is happening all over the world and at the same time. Gossip and insulting is much more dangerous than people think. Doing it everyday is already a whole lot dangerous in itself because we're proclaiming hatred in our words though we may not think it or have it ever cross our mind.

I am not judging anyone, I am expressing my concerns and how my heart goes out for them to be saved. One thing that stands out to me is the fact that they repost prayers on tiktok or whatever platform and even put Bible verses in their messenger stories. And those are the exact same people, the exact same person I heard talking bad about someone. I do not judge rudely against such people, I have no intentions to make fun of them, for all of us are just victims of sin.

Yes, God loves you. You claim you love Him, but do you love your brother and sister? Do you love your enemies? We are all made in the image and likeness of the Lord Almighty and that's why it is wrong to hate one another. The Lord made her like that so do not judge her. The Lord designed him like that so don't make fun of him. This goes for both the hater and the victim of the hater.

Matthew 25:40 says that whatever good deed you do to your sister or brother in Christ, you also did it to Him. So if you gave to the poor, you gave to Him. If you clothed the naked, you clothed Him. If you visited a prisoner, you visited Him. This doesn't only work im good deeds, but also bad deeds. So if we hate our brother and sister in Christ, we also hated Him. If you judged her, you judged Him. If you stole from her, you stole from Him. If you bully them, then you bully the Lord.

Not only to your brothers and sisters in Christ, but also to your enemies. If the Lord loves unconditionally, then as His children, why shouldn't we? If the Lord forgives and is merciful, why shouldn't we? Is He not our Father and our Lord?

Hating someone for what they did and for who they are isn't quite nice. It's like adding more fire to the fire. Instead, we should feel compassion and mercy just like how the Lord is to us who are victims of sin. It's important to know that everything isn't like what's in the surface. A girl may be hurting others, but she too is hurting. Someone is stealing from others, but he too was stolen from.

Still, it's important to take note that we are to be held accountable for what we do and our background doesn't matter. Gossiping, stealing, insulting, murdering, and all other sins cannot be excused because a SIN is a SIN. And with this, we should also take note not to judge and not to shame others for suffering in sin or other kinds of suffering.

Let's forgive our enemies and avoid sinning against your neighbor and enemy. Let's also ask forgiveness from the Lord for we have lied to Him. Then I pray for the change of hearts and that the Lord will never abandon them who suffer and He will continue working in them.

To avoid sins of hate, try remembering that every person is made in the image and likeness of God and remember verses Matthew 25:40 and 1 John 4:20-21