Can you imagine a man killing his brother just because his own heart is evil and his brothers’ is righteous? That’s the only reason Cain murdered Abel. And that murderous spirit seems to be growing. In fact, God tells us not to be surprised when the world hates us.
God tells us over and over in I John that it becomes manifestly clear who His sons are—those who live righteous lives and those who love their brother.
There are several things John tells us about someone who loves his brother:
•He practices righteousness.
•He has passed from death to life.
•He loves others because God loves him.
•He’s willing to lay down his life for his brother.
•He meets the needs of his brother with compassion.
•He loves in deed and in truth.
•God’s love abides in him and has been perfected in him.
Conversely, if we say we love God and don’t love our brother, God says we’re a liar. He also says we’re living in death and have a murderous spirit—and no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
God finishes up by commanding us to love our brother. We’re COMMANDED to love our brother! Why? Loving our brother through thick and thin is evidence of a changed life. Sometimes it takes humility and grace to love our brother. Sometimes it takes tolerance and overlooking his faults. (We can’t change him…but we can love him). Sometimes, it’s just obedience because God commanded us to love him. And…how can we love the world if we don’t even love our brother?
Don’t let Satan fill your mind with murderous thoughts about your brother. Satan is, after all, the Accuser of the Brethren. Pursue your brother with love. Ask God what would say “love” to your brother. And then do it! Don’t just tell your brother you love him and then walk away feeling good about yourself. God says to love him “in deed and in truth.” Work at it. Labor over it. DO something to show your love. And do it in truth. Do it without pretense. Mean it…from the heart.
Love. Your. Brother.
No comments:
Post a Comment