1 John 4:16-21 says,
“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.”
It’s interesting how loving God is so intricately woven together with loving people. You can’t have one without the other. This love for one another and God is what the world was like before the fall. And it’s love for one another and God that will cause this world to again look like the kingdom of God.
In Matthew 25 Jesus talks about when he will come in his glory, sit on his throne and how the nations will be gathered in front of him and be separated into two groups. These groups are formed based off of whether or not they loved the people around them. But it’s here where we get a greater taste of how God sees people. Jesus said, “whatever you did for the least of these you did unto me.” And similarly, “whatever you did not do for the least of these you did not do unto me.”
We are called to represent the love of God on earth. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men that they see your good deed and glorify your Father in heaven.” In Isaiah 61 it says, “we are oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord to display his splendor.” We are called to display and serve to others the love and life of God.
When we see people as if they were Jesus, we treat people like God treats us. Similarly when we treat people like God treats us, they experience the love of God. These people go away and will tell of how they encountered God. They encountered God because they encountered you and you represent God.
Both you and the other person encountered God. Jesus said, “whatever you did to the least of these you did unto me.” So the person you loved and encountered was actually Jesus. Jesus said, “As the father sent me so I send you.” Jesus also said, “if you have seen me, you have seen the Father who sent me, because he and I are one.” In the same way God is in you, so the person who encountered you encountered God. Both people encountered God, by encountering each other. This is why loving your brother, sister or neighbor is loving God.