Focus: 1 John 2:9 - KJV
9. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
1 John 3:10-16
There is nothing in the light that accommodates hatred as hatred is a factor in darkness. Hence, it is absolutely contradictory to claim we are of Christ, and yet hate anyone, not to talk of a member of the household of faith. When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are said to have been moved from darkness into the marvelous light of God. Now, as the light shines in darkness and darkness is not able to comprehend it, so also, when we say we are in the light, no issue of darkness ought to be found in us. Those who bear fruit that is darkness prone, are not of the light; they exist only in pretense. That is the case with those who exhibit hatred while claiming to belong to Christ. Point is, many have been made to believe that just stepping out when there is altar call is the movement from darkness to light, and they have therefore turned that into a fashion of sort, whereof they declare they are born again. There is a sorrow to the heart of the one crossing from darkness to light at the time of his transition. It is the sorrow of repentance, realizing how so wrong a life he had lived, before the moment.
Onesimus was a slave unto Philemon, who was one of the converts of Paul. Onesimus escaped from Philemon’s enclave and encountered Paul. In the encounter, Onesimus also became born again and very valuable to Paul and the Kingdom. Paul knew that Philemon, in his wrath for the past deed of Onesimus, may have developed hatred for the same in his heart. Hence, Paul wrote to Philemon to accept Onesimus with love and take whatever he thought the same still owed him, on himself (Paul), so that the good fellow, Onesimus would live as a free man and no longer in bonds. It is easy to say that Paul did not want Philemon to be dragged into darkness because of his heart towards Onesimus and therefore issued to him a demand to keep him in the light.
Friends, there is only a thin line that separates between death and life, darkness and light. Remaining in the light is about love and life while darkness epitomizes hatred and death. Holding a grudge with any man, to the extent of hating the same separates us from the light. Why should we, because of the offence of anyone, miss the light and thereby eternal life? If God were to hate us in our filth, He would not have sent His only begotten son to ransom us. Some claim they do not hate, but only can never relate with the offender, who eventually, if properly judged may be the offended. If God had been like that, who would have been saved? To be like God, we must eschew hatred in its entirety and choose love. Therein are we like our Father in heaven. He is the light and there is no darkness in Him.
SOLUTION: Look for everyone you detest in your life and reach out to them with an olive branch that your light may truly shine. Let nothing enter your heart to make you want to detest anyone again. When offences come, pray God to help you to live above them for the sake of love.
Please pray: Father, as I have decided to live in the light, please take away from me everything that may want to place me in darkness in the name of Jesus. The heart to forgive and forget everyone that may offend me, please give to me in Jesus’ name. Do not allow any jot of hatred in me, against anyone, in Jesus’ name. Help me to dwell in your light perpetually, in Jesus’ name.
If you are blessed by this post, kindly share with your contacts as well as others, that they may be blessed also. Thank you and may God bless you abundantly as you do so, in Jesus’ name.
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