TUESDAY, 18 JUNE 2024
TEXT:
1 John 3:11-24
11.
For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one
another,
12.
unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he
murder him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.
13.
Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.
14.
We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers.
The one who does not love remains in death.
15.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has
eternal life residing in him.
16.
This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should
also lay down our lives for our brothers.
17.
If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need but shuts off his
compassion from him-how can God’s love reside in him?
18.
Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth;
19.
that is how we will know we are of the truth, and will convince our hearts in
His presence,
20.
because if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all
things.
21.
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn [us] we have confidence before God,
22.
and can receive whatever we ask from Him because we keep His commands and do
what is pleasing in His sight.
23.
Now this is His command: that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ,
and love one another as He commanded us.
24.
The one who keeps His commands remains in Him, and He in him. And the way we
know that He remains in us is from the Spirit He has given us.
(Holmans Contemporary Society Version
Holy Bible)
TOPIC:
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
John
explains that Cain murdered his brother because he belonged to Satan. Why would
John bring the story of Cain as an illustration in a message that commands all
believers to love one another according to Jesus’ instructions?
If
Cain had loved his brother, he wouldn’t have allowed jealousy and envy lead him
to commit murder.
Also,
hatred is seen as being synonymous with committing murder and no murderer has a
place in the kingdom of God!
So
how would you define love in the context that John addresses us all? It is a
verb displayed through what you and I do to one another. It can also be defined
as a noun which express one’s feeling of deep affection and interest for
someone else.
So,
it is possible to know whether you truly love someone or not as your heart will
bear witness.
Jesus
Christ is our supreme example of love in action and in our personality. Because
we choose to love without reservation, the world will hate and even try to kill
us.
But
we must love even while we were still sinners.
QUESTION:
How would you rate your ability to love those God sends your way on a scale of
1 – 10?
PRAYER:
Thank God for His love to you through the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ and ask Him to help you spread the same love to others.
Remain
Blessed
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