Today we have an abbreviated continuation of our 1 John series.
We celebrate the Mother’s in our lives today for Mother’s Day. They are truly a blessing from God and we look forward to taking a day to celebrate what they mean to us.
God wants us to know the depth of his love. He sent his son, he wants us to be his children. He wants us to express that same love to one another. John brings up the story of Cain. Why did Cain kill his brother? Because Abel was righteous and Cain was not. In we see that Cain was instructed by God that sin is crouching at the door and we are to fight against it.
Do not be surprised if the world hates you. They do not know the Father’s love, and as such, they hate those who live in that truth. Jesus told his disciples not to be afraid that the world hates them because they hated him first. When the world is accustomed to being in the darkness, they resist the light.
When we put our faith in the finished works of Christ, we pass from death to life. But that should lead our hearts to love one another. If you find yourself not loving, you remain in the death before salvation.
We are going to finish there for today, but we will continue to stand in God’s love, and we will love one another.
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 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. (ESV)
4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? (ESV)
13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. (ESV)
14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. (ESV)