We
Have Passed
From Death To Life
The
children of God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who
do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their
brothers and sisters.
For this
is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one
another. We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his
brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his
brother's righteous. Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world
hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one
another. Whoever does not love abides in death. All who hate a brother or
sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding
in them. We know love by this, that he laid down his
life for us - and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does
God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods
and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help?
Little children,
let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we
will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him
whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he
knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness
before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his
commandments and do what pleases him.
And this
is his commandment, that we should believe in the name
of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
1 John 3:10-23
The Jews
clearly understood that God's commandment not to kill refers to murder, which
is the malicious taking of human life. It does not forbid governments from
using the death penalty or to wage war. The commandment deals solely with
private morality. Scripture tells us the divine truth that human life is sacred
and that we must protect and preserve it. Every human being bears God's image.
Our Lord has given us love and forgiveness. We should go to Him in prayer and
ask that the Holy Spirit help us to love others as Jesus has loved us. In doing so, we will value life, protect life, and enrich life as a
gift from God.
Anger is just one letter short of danger.
Our Daily Bread -