“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

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.” – 1 John 4:16-21

John, "the one Jesus loved", makes it clear that hate and love cannot coexist. And yet, many today hate while professing to love God. John says that is not possible.

The Greek word translated as "hate" is miseó which, according to Strong's Concordance, means "to detest (especially to persecute)."

John says we cannot love God while we hate, detest, and persecute others. And, if we profess love for God while actively hating others, we are not telling the truth. We are liars and, by implication, cannot be trusted.

In today's culture, the word "hate" is used flippantly. Much like the word "love" itself. We can love or hate many things and profess such ... ice cream, the beach, running, or politics. A meal, a book, or a song. Our culture has taught us that the words we use really don't matter. "It's just a word," right?

But words do matter. Much more than our current culture and The World would have us believe. Because, if words don't matter, then nothing does. Words are thoughts expressed and come to life. And, when thoughts are expressed, either verbally or in writing, action is just around the corner.

This is why the law takes words very seriously. In an extreme example, it is one thing to think about killing someone, it is another, more aggravated step to voice it or write about it. This is the point where an unknown thought becomes a known, active threat and the law steps in.

But how do we get to hate? The point where we detest and actively persecute someone or something?

Much like darkness being the absence of light, hate is the absence of love. And, as there is a progression from day to night, light to dark, there is also a progression from love to hate.

Most often the progression starts in simple ways with confusion or misunderstanding. This happens all the time. Yet, if they are not resolved, they can quickly lead to frustration - the place where something doesn't make sense to us. And things that don't make sense can be extremely frustrating because in our cultural modernity we have come to believe that everything should make sense to us. And more importantly, that there is no room in life for things that don't "make sense."

From there anger is born, and unchecked anger is deadly. If anger is allowed to run rampant within us, it will quickly turn to fear and it is through fear that hatred takes root in our heart.

Hatred is the death of love. It is impossible to love if you hold hatred in your heart.

We think we are better than we are. That we can compartmentalize our hatred. That we can hate someone and still love God or others. But that is the biggest deception of all. When we hate, we have moved into the realm of evil and have taken the most substantial step we can that ensures the hardening of our heart.

To hate someone is not to just disagree with or dislike them. When we hate, we move into the realm of active persecution and, ultimately, if we have our way, the destruction of the other.

This is why John makes it a point to say in verse 18 that "perfect love drives out fear." Love is the antidote to fear. And, if love is allowed to take root, will always triumph.

In his famous discourse on the most important things, this is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13 that,

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

Love is the strongest force in the universe. It cannot, as the old saying goes, be gainsaid. Love is disarming. Love is restorative. Love redeems. And, as Peter so eloquently put it,

"Lover covers over a multitude of sins." - 1 Peter 4:8

Not just our own sins but the sins of others as well. The sins we commit and those committed against us. And the source of love? God. Primarily through the Father and Jesus.

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love." - John 15:9-10

If we remain in Jesus' love, we can cast out fear. We can release our all-consuming commitment to understand everything. We can be who Jesus called us to be. We can be different.

And we can reverse the progression to hate.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:13-16

And if not? Well, you see it in the world around you every day ... all hell breaks loose.

Please check out my new book,

THE TOV HEART: God's Design for a Life Rooted in What Matters Most 

You can order it from Amazon here THE TOV HEART

It is my hope and prayer that you will be blessed and challenged to look for more with God - Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit. No matter how much you think you have, there is always MORE! Godspeed!

Copyright © 2025 Ray Schmidt