If we want to really see of what spirit we are, then we need to prayerfully study 1 John 4. For brevity, we'll look at two verses.

    Verse 11: "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." The same way God loved us is the way we are to love others

    We were all sinners, rebels, betrayers, perverse idol worshippers, adulterers, and murderers, filled with hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness. God still loved us and gave His only begotten Son for us, so that we might be set free.

    This is how we are to love all other people. It does not matter what they have done, no matter how distasteful it is, the blood of Jesus stands to cleanse it all away at all times.

    The love of God sees only through the blood of Jesus. If we are looking through the love of God, we only see the color of the blood of Jesus for other's forgiveness. The blood of Jesus is the only color. There is no other color.

    Sins can be scarlet. They shall be white as snow.
    Skin can be black, white, red, yellow, or mixed. Every person is presently and eternally precious in the sight of God. He has every precious hair of their head numbered.

    One's background can be Jew, Gentile, rich or poor. God's purpose is to bring all together in unity in Christ Jesus His Beloved Son.
    Jesus gave His life to make all one family of faith in Him.
    We are to love all others as God loves us.

    Verse 20: "If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar...". The Word tells us straight out--God's love and hatred does not exist side-by-side. If what you say is not demonstrated by what you do, it is plain for all to see--you are a liar.

    Liars are judged. If I am living a lie, I want to know about it.
    When I see the error of my way, I will repent and make amends, for I do not want to experience the judgement of God upon sin. If I am living a lie, I must bear the judgement of my sin. I do not want to persist in sin, thus incurring the present judgement of God upon sin.

    To live in God's love sets us free. It sets others free. Regardless of what another has done, we are free to love them with the love of God and be one happy family in Jesus.

    If we persist in our own way, we bring bondage and division upon ourselves and between us and those who we refuse to accept.

    It is either God's love, or live a lie. If we live a lie, we suffer the consequences, and cause others to suffer the consequences of our sin.

    How much suffering and division could be spared, if we would just repent from our own ungodly, prejudiced ways, and chose to live the godly life of the love of God! This is especially true toward our own flesh and blood, and toward the household of faith.

    There is such abundance of life and freedom in living the life of the love of God. Much judgement and physical suffering could be spared, if we would just choose to live in the love of God.

    So, let us examine ourselves. Any areas in which we are not living in the love of God, let us repent and make amends, and close the door to suffering, both in ourselves, and, in those who are estranged from us because they are the target of our disfavor, rejection, and hatred.

    "Love never fails" 1Cor.13.8.

    This is the way of the Spirit of God.