1/15/2010 07:30:00 PM
Jeffrey K Radt ("JRed")
I thought that this passage of Scripture fits nicely with the message of the last 2-3 entries:
1 John 3:11-18 (KJV) 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Let's pay attention to those last two words -- "deed" and "truth" -- because that's the thrust of this message I think.
Also, let's notice the part about Cain. If we go back to the Book of Genesis to read that account we read about how Cain's "countenance fell" (Genesis 4:5), which is an interesting description of his attitude, isn't it?
Obviously, there's a lot of truth in this passage, but something tells me there's a lot of truth in these verses as they apply to this forum as of late.
For me, one of the many things I took from this reading today is that I need to stop being so surprised by and worried over some of the things that have been bothering me lately as they pertain to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Everything is happening EXACTLY the way we were told (warned) that it would.
Therefore, I personally need to remind myself to take comfort in that truth when I experience it. It's ironic because I have no problem "taking comfort" in seeing all the other signs unfolding in the news of the world around us, but for some reason whenever the same type of signs occur in the Body of Christ around us (coming from other believers) I get disheartened and discouraged rather than take comfort in them as well.
One final note. How do people know that we are Christians? By our love! Look at verse 17 again. If we see someone in need, then what we do about it in response says a lot about who we are. Acting compassionately in response (regardless of whether or not the world says that those in need "deserve it" or not) puts feet to our love.
As always, praise God for revealing the appropriate words at the appropriate time.
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1 John 3:11-18 (KJV) 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Let's pay attention to those last two words -- "deed" and "truth" -- because that's the thrust of this message I think.
Also, let's notice the part about Cain. If we go back to the Book of Genesis to read that account we read about how Cain's "countenance fell" (Genesis 4:5), which is an interesting description of his attitude, isn't it?
Obviously, there's a lot of truth in this passage, but something tells me there's a lot of truth in these verses as they apply to this forum as of late.
For me, one of the many things I took from this reading today is that I need to stop being so surprised by and worried over some of the things that have been bothering me lately as they pertain to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Everything is happening EXACTLY the way we were told (warned) that it would.
Therefore, I personally need to remind myself to take comfort in that truth when I experience it. It's ironic because I have no problem "taking comfort" in seeing all the other signs unfolding in the news of the world around us, but for some reason whenever the same type of signs occur in the Body of Christ around us (coming from other believers) I get disheartened and discouraged rather than take comfort in them as well.
One final note. How do people know that we are Christians? By our love! Look at verse 17 again. If we see someone in need, then what we do about it in response says a lot about who we are. Acting compassionately in response (regardless of whether or not the world says that those in need "deserve it" or not) puts feet to our love.
As always, praise God for revealing the appropriate words at the appropriate time.
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1 Comments:
One of our favorite verses related to this is John 13:35.
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (KJV)
Love is an action, not a state of being. You choose to love no matter the circumstance. Or, you choose not to love.
May the Lord find disciples in all of us as we work to share His awesome love!
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