“And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.” 1 John 3:12 NKJV
John asks, “And for what reason did he murder him?” It was not because Abel was a scoundrel doing evil. Rather, Cain’s works were evil and Abel’s were righteous. The root of Cain’s slaughter of his brother was that Cain was in rebellion against God. While hatred may be directed at other people, invariably the hateful person is at odds with God. They need to confront their own sinful heart. Hatred is typified in Adam’s firstborn, Cain. It originated with the devil. Hatred divides people and may result in murder. It is motivated by personal sin or rebellion against God. Just as the Devil entered the heart of Judas at the institution of the Lord’s Supper to betray Jesus, so the Devil can enter our hearts when we hate others. The Devil entered Ananias and Sapphira’s hearts, two Christians, and caused them to lie and cheat (Acts 5:3). It all begins with that sinister being, the Devil, whose purpose is to undermine the things of God. May we be reminded of the words of Paul in Ephesians 2:1-3 as He wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, as He writes to us, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” Let us constantly allow the Holy Spirit to spread the love of Jesus abroad in our hearts, daily.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, may we always be aware that we once walked in darkness.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, as we live in the awareness that we, too, once walked in darkness and in the ways of the world, help us to continually spread Your love abroad in our hearts by the power and ministry of Your Holy Spirit. AMEN
I.B.R.A. Readings
2 Samuel 12:1-15
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