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11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We must not be like Cain who was the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you.14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 All who hate a brother or sister are murderers and you know that murders do not have eternal life abiding in them. 16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.

 

How hard it is to love everyone. It is ok to disagree with others on a variety of topics and have one’s own opinion. However, we must not let hate enter into our hearts, thinking and doing of life. We must put hate aside and not let that be our motivator in our daily lives. We must love all people and accept that we may not like someone and there is a huge difference between dislike and hate. Like the old expression my mother taught me, if you don’t have anything nice to say about someone, keep it to yourself or don’t say anything. Easy to say and especially hard to do. It certainly takes a lot more self-discipline then I can muster on a daily level.

 

God raises the bar and expects us to meet the challenge every day. We must abide in love, turn the other cheek, be our brother or sister’s keeper and many more examples of taking the High Road the way we are expected to do as Christians. Every time we feel that we may turn to hate, remember who died on the cross for us and gave His life, the ultimate love, when he was hated.

 

Let us pray-Be with us Lord each day when we may be drawn into conversations or actions of hate. Let us show love and tolerance when we are tempted to join in unsavory situations. Amen

 

Cindy Dougherty

beachspch@aol.com

 

Prayer Concern - Please pray for peace in the world.