I’ve been writing about how we should show our love for God. In my last post I started talking about participating in the body of Christ. We were looking at a verse from 1 John.

If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1 John 4:20-21 NIV

If you remember, I said that love is choosing to actively, positively participate in someone’s life while hate is choosing to not actively, positively participate in someone’s life.

So that brings up the question; can you love God and not go to church? Some would argue that you could watch a church service on TV or over the internet. But can you participate with those believers?

A great segment of Christians say that they love God. Is it true? What does God think, based upon His Word?

In the above verse John is saying, “How can you participate with someone you cannot see, if you cannot participate with the ones you do see?”

“But I don’t like them.”

The thing is, the Lord isn’t asking you to like them, but to participate with them. I’m going to start meddling. It’s amazing what you’ll put up with for a paycheck. But to please God, it seems too hard.

You would rather actively, positively participate with some people you don’t like for a paycheck. Do you love your paycheck more than God?

I won’t judge you. But I know what the world says about us. The world calls us hypocrites, and many times they’re correct.

But the real issue is more than participation.

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

Hebrews 6:10 NIV

The word for help in this verse is actually the Greek word for serve. This verse makes it clear that you show your love for God as you serve His people and continue to serve. It’s more than giving a blessing. It’s also more than participation. We’re talking about serving.

Love for God means serving others. This is the hardest thing we’re called to do. The truth is that we’re basically selfish creatures. Our first response is, “Well nobody serves me. Why should I serve them?”

At the Last Supper all of the disciples thought like that. Then Jesus took a towel and washed their feet. Jesus served in spite of them not serving.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:10 NIV

Do you realize that when you serve you’re administering God’s grace? We need to do something for the Lord. Not because we have to, but because we can. He’s made us worthy to serve Him. Now we can love God with our actions.

Question: How well do you serve in the body of Christ?

© 2026 Nick Zaccardi