October 28, 2026 | Be Connected
Love One Another
Scripture: 1 John 3:11-15(NIV)
11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
Devotional
There’s a famous Peanuts cartoon that begins with a conversation between Lucy and her little brother, Linus. Linus wants to be a doctor. But Lucy scoffs at him and says, “You, a doctor? Ha! That’s a big laugh! You could never be a doctor! You know why? Because you don’t love mankind, that’s why!” As Lucy is riding away, Linus shouts back, “I love mankind......it’s people I can’t stand!” I will admit, the older I get, the more I identify with Linus’ comments. It’s easy to say I love everyone. But the individual people? Maybe not so much. I love mankind but there are people in this world that I sometimes find difficult to love.
But Jesus commands us to love. Full stop. Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was. His response? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.......And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37, 39) The two most important commandments for us as followers of Christ are to love. And Jesus doesn’t say love those who are easy to love. We are to love ALL, no matter what.
John takes this point and increases the stakes. Not only are we to love, but hate is not to have any part in our lives. In fact, John says if we hate another person, we are, in fact, a murderer, just as Cain murdered his brother Abel because of the evil in his heart. I’m reminded of another Scripture that sounds very similar.
“You have heard that it was said.......‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” (Matthew 5:21-22)
Christians are called to a higher standard. We are not to murder, but we are also not to hate or hold anger toward another. God calls us to examine the attitudes of our hearts, not just be concerned with our actions. Are there even times when we struggle to love other Christians? Yes - and that’s the challenge. We are called to love ALL. Even those whom we don’t really like very much.
“I love mankind......it’s people I can’t stand!” God doesn’t call us to show love to “mankind” and then fail to show love to “people”. It’s our relationship and love for people that is the heart of the gospel. My prayer for myself, and for you as well, is that we find ways to love everyone. EVERYONE! Even those we may not like. In God’s eyes, they are all children of God and deserving of our love.
