September 30, 2026

Seeing God in How We Love

1 John 3:23-24, 1 John 4:7-21, James 2:14-17

Christopher J.H. Wright says in his book Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit

“We are commanded not only to believe in the name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, but also to love one another and together they are one integrated command. If you do the first (believe), you will do the second (love). If you aren’t doing the second (loving one another), you aren’t doing the first (believing in Jesus). Don’t try to split them, for they are both the single command of God: believe in Jesus and love one another. They go together.

So love for one another is not only the evidence of the life of God within us, it is also the evidence of the faith through which we came to receive that life in the first place. James said that faith without deeds is dead. John would agree by saying that faith without love (love that is proved in good deeds) is also dead-nothing but an empty claim. In fact, since “this is his command,” it follows that if we aren’t showing practical love for one another, we are simply disobeying the commands of the Jesus we say we believe in. And what kind of disciples are we then?

Our love for one another makes visible the love of God…We are supposed to be the living proof of the living God. No one can see God. But people can see us. And when we love one another, it is the love of God they see. When Christians love each other, it shows who they belong to. It points people to Jesus. Christian love is incredibly transforming, and in many contexts so surprising and countercultural that it can only be the work of Christ, the power of the gospel, the fruit of the Spirit.”

- Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit.

Reflection

Who is someone who has loved you in a way that you have never seen or felt in another person? What stood out to you about the way they showed you love? How intentionally and personally we experience love from another person is a powerful tether for us to walk in the love of Christ. To love others is to be able to show them the face of Christ. Reflect on what it might look like to echo that type of love to ALL of those you interact with today.

This week, take time to really read through the listed scripture references. Reflect on what they say about love. Reflect on what they teach you about love. Most importantly, be open and ready to put this love (agape) into action in your life and the world around you.