¹⁹ We love because God first loved us. ²⁰ If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen. ²¹ The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also.

¹ Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah is a child of God; and whoever loves a father loves his child also.  (GNT)

Reflection

This passage gives us a clear reason to love each other. Instead of being kind to others because we are “supposed to” and not doing it out of genuine love, these verses remind us that other people are also God’s children. We as human beings are flawed and don’t have the perfect love God has, and sometimes we tend to look only to God for love and support rather than each other. However, if we truly love God, we have to love His children, also; in loving others, we are loving God.