RPG Adults
THE MARK OF BROTHERLY LOVE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26
1 John 3:11-14
Luke 10:30-37
“Then said Jesus unto him,
Go, and do thou likewise.”
THE MARK OF BROTHERLY LOVE
The Apostle stressed the need to love one another as part of the gospel that the believers had heard from the beginning. This was how Jesus summed up the keeping of the second table of the Ten Commandments. Love is the central element in human relations. If one loves one’s neighbour, one will not break any of those six commandments against one’s neighbour.
The Apostle John cited Cain as a bad example and said that he was of the wicked one. Cain acted under the control of the devil and became the first murderer. He slew his own brother. “… And wherefore slew he him? ...” (1 John 3:12). John posed this question and gave the answer, “Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” John showed the damage that the lack of love brought. With such an example being cited, our mental judgment immediately goes against the offender and condemns Cain. But there is need for us to ask ourselves: “Am I guilty too of such an offence? Or of any offence?”
When believers draw a demarcation line to separate from the world, they naturally become enemies of the world. The Apostle said that we ought not to marvel at such a reaction. The Christian testimony sets believers apart so that they pass from death into life. They show their testimony by their demonstrated love. John stressed this point severally because this must come naturally when one lives in Christ. When Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, the Samaritan showed that he did what was naturally necessary. On the contrary, the priest and the Levite were bound by the laws of men and forgot to honour God by showing mercy to the man in need. John said that such abide in death.
THOUGHT: A regenerated heart does the bidding of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER: Lord, teach me to show true love to others.