Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (Excerpts from 1 John 4:7-21 – NIV)
Who are my brothers and sisters? Well, the short answer is family, friends, community, races, religions, nations, immigrants, refugees, the homeless, the sick, the hungry, the lonely, the dying, the lovable, all creation, the unlovable, the arrogant, racists, haters, bigots, bullies . . .
Yep, even the latter ones. If we hate the hater, we too are liars. It’s really hard, but it’s the Way.
Oh for the grace to love!
-Sam Augsburger
