MARCH 15, Galatians 5:21

Is there a mistake in today’s title – “Are you a Murderer”? “Of course not!” you would say.

In today’s verse, the idea behind the word “murderer” is not so much about the murders one may read of in newspapers, but hate. Today’s lesson follows from yesterday’s, which was on envy. We have discussed that to be envious is a sin. And if you allow envy to stay in your heart, it will grow. And it will grow to such an extent that you come to hate the person you envy. Do not think that is impossible! In fact, there are times when this hate grows so dreadful that it causes the one who hates to actually commit murder!

The problem with many of us in tackling sin is that most of the time, we think that a “little” sin is alright. In any case, many other people do the same thing. That is dangerous thinking and leads us to slide further from God. The less serious we are about sin, the more sin will grow.

But is hating someone considered murder? Yes! 1 John 3:15 teaches us that “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”

This verse is a serious warning to all of us – if we are Christians, we cannot have hate in our hearts. That is why the second part of 1 John 3:15 says, “no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” Dear child, do you hate anyone? Do you think someone has done you or someone you love such terrible harm that you cannot but hate this person?

To hate someone and want revenge is part of what our old self would want to do. Before we became Christians, it was natural to envy, or hate, or want revenge. But the Bible teaches us that once we become the children of God, all these must stop. I know it is not easy, but would you not try? Pray to the Lord for help, and He will answer you.

Thought: May you not hate anyone.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, if I have problems dealing with hate, please help me. It is such a difficult area and I know that on my own, I cannot have victory in this area of my Christian walk. So Heavenly Father, please give me the power to submit to You and not to hate anyone, even if this person has done something terrible to me or someone I love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.