SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 09-02-04
My Worship Time Focus: Hatred in the life of unbelievers and
believers
Bible Reading &
Meditation Reference: 1John 3:13-15
Message of the verse: “13 Do
not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.
14 We know that we have passed out of death into life,
because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a
murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” (NAS95)
“13 Don’t be surprised, my
brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We
know that we have crossed the frontier from death to life because we do love
our brothers. The man without love for his brother is still living in
death. 15 The man who hates his brother
is at heart a murderer, and you know that the eternal life of God cannot live
in the heart of a murder.” (PHILPS)
I believe
that verse 13 ties in with verses 11 and 12 for it is talking about a believer
who is living for the Lord and because of that the world hates him just as it
hated Jesus Christ.
In verse 14
John is talking about some evidence that will show that a person is a true
believer, and that is that he will begin to love his new brethren instead of
hating them. Hatred is very close to murder,
as Jesus explained in Matthew 5:21-26, and so when a person who has given
testimony that he is a believer and still has continued hatred in his heart it
is provable that he is not a true believer, this is what John is writing about
in verse 15.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: It is not so difficult for me to not have the
kind of hatred in my heart that would want to see someone dead, but getting mad
with fellow believers is a harder thing to avoid.
The Word of God has brought conviction to my heart as I read
it this morning.
My Steps of Faith
Today: I believe that there needs to
be some serious prayer time in our lives about our trip to Aruba.
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