Proverbs 29:10
The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
But the upright seek his well-being
We will know followers of Jesus by the love that they show to others. And who are the others? Everyone! Jesus came to take on the sins of the world. In Him we are saved from the evil that is in this world.
John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
In Jesus, evil cannot exist.
1 John 3:10-12 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.
Psalm 38:20
Those also who render evil for good,
They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.
Jesus gave us a new commandment to love our neighbors as we do ourselves. We cannot call evil good nor good evil! Carla
John summarizes his argument from chapter two: those whose lives characterized by love and obedience are identified as God’s children and enjoy His fellowship. Those who proclaim a false religion do not have the characteristics that come from a life of love and obedience. People who condone sin are in essence following the devil’s leadership. John seems to be cautioning his audience about the dangers of excusing sin. Doing so makes a person’s life under the jurisdiction of the devil—not God.
Obedience and love serve as evidence of a genuine relationship with Jesus and other believers (1 John 2:3–6).
It means loving other people, even at personal cost (2:7–11).
Here John develops that argument more fully. This message has always been foundational for faith.
Cain refers to the son of Adam and Eve who killed his brother, Abel (Genesis 4:1–16). Cain’s story shows where sin leads—to works of evil, such as jealousy and murder. Faithlife Study Bible
Christians manifest their nature by practicing righteousness (2:7). Children of the devil display their basic nature by sinning. Believers who sin are not expressing their nature as children of God; instead, they are following the devil’s pattern.
John identifies loving one another as absolutely basic to living for Christ and advancing His kingdom.
Cain is identified as a spiritual child of the devil. His brother Abel is identified as a child of God. Cain’s act of murder was the epitome of hatred, and thus came from the wicked one (verse 8). The NKJV Study Bible
Genesis 4:8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
John 13:34–35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 John 4:20–21 |If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
Life is difficult, Scott Peck wrote in The Road Less Traveled.
Yes. And haven’t we all felt near the breaking point?
And listening to many people—who had the courage to reach out—that “breaking point” is weightier now than it’s ever been.
Here's the deal: Yes, sorrow—darkness from pain or suffering or cruelty—is a part of life. But this darkness does not get to say how the story ends.
That is good news. We still have choices available to us. We are not at the mercy of.
One. Fear is not the final answer.
Two. We, every single one of us, can create safe (sanctuary) places.
We can do that. We can do that for people we know who live with emotional or spiritual, and yes, physical harm.
Three. We can appeal to our better angels, where we are reminded that when we see with our heart, we are grounded.
We are present. We are conscious, and no longer numbed.
What are we going to invest in; with our time, energy, heart and passion?
I have an idea. With our moments and day… Let us be present. We serve. We help. We hug. We heal.
So, if ever there was a time for the soft- and tender-hearted courageous women and men to step forward, it is now. Indifference is not an option.
“Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention,” L.R. Knost reminds us. “So, go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.” “Sabbath Moments”
Because this is true, we "set [our] minds on things that are above" (Colossians 3:2). More than just looking to heaven as a place where we'll live with God someday, having a "things above" mindset means our everyday actions become driven by a desire to "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:10). This isn't just a one-time decision but a daily walk with Jesus that requires aspiration, pursuit, and passion. By faith, we strive for deeper knowledge and relationship with Christ each day, allowing Him to transform our attitudes and behaviors to align with His heart. Since we "have been raised with Christ" (Colossians 3:1), our spiritual union with Him reaches beyond our physical location. John 14:26 reminds us we are never alone because we have the Holy Spirit as our Guide, teaching us what it means to walk with Christ on earth and encouraging us as we replace our earthly thoughts with those of heaven. First5
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