Daily Devotional – Thursday, February 26, 2026
If anyone claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister, he is a liar. 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 (NIV)
A man at a neighbourhood event talked about how much he loved God and his church, but he wouldn’t say hello to the old man next to him. Everyone could see that there was a difference between what he said and how he acted.
The Evidence of Love
John talks about this contradiction in today’s key text. Love for the invisible God is demonstrated by love for people who can be seen. The apostle’s stance is unequivocal. There is no way to make it clearer.
It’s easy to sing worship songs, share Bible verses, and talk about grace. It is more difficult to forgive someone, listen patiently, or help someone who can’t pay us back. However, these everyday decisions show if God’s love is really in us or if it’s just a religious idea.
The Test No One Can Avoid
God never separates love from devotion. We can’t hold on to anger toward people who were made in His image and still say we have a close relationship with Him. When we don’t show kindness, we go against who Christ was, who loved in a way that was both visible and sacrificial.
Take a real look at your relationships. Have you ever felt upset about something and then talked about God in a high-minded way? Make the decision today to bring your actions and your words closer together. This shows that your love for God is a way of life, not just words.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to demonstrate my love for you through the way I treat other people.
