DAY 2 – The test of love

Today’s Scripture

1 John 2:8-11 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Hate is a strong word. It means to dislike greatly; to have a great aversion to.

Just to dig a little deeper, aversion means opposition or repugnance of mind; dislike; disinclination; reluctance; hatred. 

WHERE AM I OPPOSED TO OTHERS? Ouch!

I can remember hearing from people when I was a kid, mostly mothers of friend, who would say, “We don’t use words like hate?” I am pretty sure that I have said the same thing.

There are some things that God hates: Proverbs 6:16-19

These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
¹⁷ A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
¹⁹ A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

An attitude, a kind of words, an action, a motive, a propensity, a twisting, and a breaking.

This passage for our ponder for today speaks of IN CHRIST — in Him and in you —

the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

The duality of our walking… We are being transformed into, and yet also have something in us that desires to keep us in the dark. But light lets us see. We are able to see when we are about to walk into the dark… by what we say!

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.

Are we listening?

But love…  It is opposed to hatred. It expresses affection, consisting of esteem, benevolence, goodwill and kindness toward. It moved toward unlike hate which repels us.

He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

When we love our brothers and sisters it is because there is no cause for stumbling…

and what causes us to stumble… notice we stumble – not they make us stumble…

We stumble because these are present: An attitude, a kind of words, an action, a motive, a propensity, a twisting, and a breaking. We are walking in what God hates.

We are walking in darkness.

11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

WOW!

Today’s Action: 

Is there anyone who is a brother or sister in Christ that you have offended or who has offended you? I encourage you to have the conversation, risk the uncomfortable feelings, and be reconciled to one another. Do not delay!

I woke up with one person in mind that I think I might have walked away from in the middle of some pleasant conversation as I was chasing a grandchild. Now you might think, and I might think… well surely that is no big deal. For sure they understand, you were chasing a grandchild!! Well, I call these little thoughts “spinning” thoughts. If I am thinking of it. It is mine to handle. I often find that when I am replaying a scene from a social situation or thinking about how that might have been upsetting. The best way to keep my love moving toward people is to reach out.

Take the way of love, stay in the light as He is in the light and do your best not to stumble at love with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Thanks for listening,

Starla