Focus: 1 John 3:14-15 - KJV
14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Matthew 5:21-24
The life promised of Christ is premised on love. His standard of love is by far higher than ordinary human comprehension. For instance, we cannot claim to love if we cannot share even to the extent of halving what we possess to care for our neighbor. And, we cannot claim to love if we cannot forgive those who offend us. More intriguing is that we cannot claim we love if we know that a neighbor has ought against us and we fail to seek the person to reconcile with, continuing as if all is well.
There are people who would look for the simplest excuse to lay off their wife or an acquaintance. Some will create the excuse where it does not ordinarily exist. Many will still begrudge others into the new year and assume they are right. It is only those who truly realize that being in Christ is about passing from death to life that have life. Anyone who is dead feels no pain and therefore has a renewed hope in life devoid of pain, through Christ. It is therefore anti-life to keep grudges and hate a neighbor particularly amongst the brethren.
It is boxing day today and a great opportunity to renew life. It is the mind of God that we will scale the hurdle of difficulty to reconcile by seeking those people we had offended and those who think we offended them, for a reconciliation and delivery of a gift box to them in the spirit of the Yuletide. Heaven will rejoice when we do it for then do we get life indeed.
Please pray:
Father, we thank you for the benefit of life. As we seek life more abundantly, please help us to forgive truly everyone that had offended us in the course of the year and even before. Give us the courage to seek those who have ought against us for reconciliation; and when we do so, make them amenable to reconciliation, in Jesus’ name. As we continue in life, though offenses shall come, please do not let us fail you in them in any way, in Jesus’ name.
Please share with others. God bless you.
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