I have previously done a similar post to this; however, it is not from the same book in the Bible. This post is from the book of 1 John. I don't think anyone can say enough that we should all love each other.
We will hear this over and over in the Bible, in different books and all throughout the Bible. We should love one another as we are God's children. For the ones that kill, you have sinned against God and disobeyed his commandments. You killed your brother and/or sister of Jesus Christ. We should not treat one another in such a way. Surround each other in love, say hey to anyone that walks by. Talk to a stranger that's having a bad day, give a smile to someone you pass in a parking lot, or ask someone how their day is going. You never know what you could do for a person by just saying a few words.
"For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of 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 surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love our brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." - 1 John 3:11-15
If you hate someone, you are considered a murderer. You are being hateful; therefore, you are sinning. Be loving toward everyone. If someone comes to you being hateful just overcome that evil with love. Be loving and just overcome evil. Love everyone. I mean everyone. No matter what someone has done to you in the past, forgive and forget. They will answer to the Lord when their time comes. Not your problem. Love them, for everything.
"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:16-18
Our first instinct to when someone says something hurtful to us, is to come back with an equal reply. That is wrong, and it's cruel. It's not a brotherly thing to do. Overcome their hateful ways, and either ignore them or say something loving towards them. The saying "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all," comes to mind when talking about this subject. It's a very wise phrase to follow throughout life. I, myself, am a bad one at this and I will continue to try to work on this throughout my lifetime. I am very defensive, and I have a habit of coming back with a hurtful comeback if someone says something mean to me. I have to realize that that is their choice to say something rude to me, but it is under my control of what I reply with or if I reply at all. Coming to the realization that they will answer to God when the time comes has helped me with this problem, and he will ask them why they did not love their brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ
"By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him; because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." 1 John 3:19-24
I will say it again, love one another. Be loving and not hateful. It's something we all need to work on, and it's hard. It's something that we all will always continue to work on, but as long as we all don't stop trying is the main goal. Treat each other as you would like to be treated. With love, kindness, care, and compassion is the way we should treat others.
God is love. He wants us to love one another. Keep that in mind. Never forget it.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.
Amen.
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