Thought of the Day !!

If anyone says, "I am living in the light," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves other Christians is living in the light and does not cause anyone to stumble. Anyone who hates a Christian brother or sister is living and walking in darkness. Such a person is lost, having been blinded by the darkness.
1 John 2:9-11 (NLT)

This chapter begins with John talking about the commandment of love. He explains that it has been around since the beginning. God commanded it. Jesus reminded people of it. And before he left, Christ also modeled it.

Love is the most important part of a relationship. And a relationship with Himself and each other is what God truly desires most from us. He was willing to go to some pretty extreme measures to show us this. He came to earth in the form of a baby, giving up the comforts of Heaven for the stench of a lowly stable. He walked this earth not as a king, but as a commoner. And then He suffered an agonizing death for us so that we could realize that there was a way out of our sinful lives...a way into the perfect loving relationship with Him.

Now hate is a pretty strong word. Every person who doesn't like another individual doesn't necessarily have hate. But not liking someone can often times come from unforgiveness, which is one of the surest stepping stones to hate. Jesus knew this when he said that if we don't forgive others then our Heavenly Father will not forgive us. He knew the danger of unforgiveness when he told Peter to forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven times.

So if you have unforgiveness in you today, look at it very closely. If it, or anything else, has led you to hate another person, realize that you are living outside the boundaries of God. If we hate, we are walking in darkness and are lost according to John. Don't let anger or unforgiveness control you and keep you out of the Kingdom of God. Let go of them. If we bring these burdens to Jesus, he will help us to rid ourselves of them. It may take time and patience, but that's something God has plenty of.

In the love of Christ,
greg