THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
Ben had just started kindergarten. He hated it!
Before, he had always been home with Mom. And was able to go play.
Now, he was "cooped up" in a classroom!
When he returned home after the first day, Mom asked, "Ben what did you learn today?"
With a disgusted look on his face, he said, "Not enough! I STILL hafta go back TOMORROW!"
_______________________________________________________________________
________SCRIPTURE_____________________________________________________
1 John 2:7-11
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
KJV
________________________________________________________________________
_______THOUGHT_________________________________________________________
Some Christians have been enrolled in Jesus' school for many years, and STILL have a lot to learn!
John declares he is writing "no new commandment" (vs 7).
It has been God's commandment from the beginning that we "love our neighbor as ourselves." (See Lev. 19:18)
Even though that may be an OLD commandment, it certainly has become "new" because of the "light" Christ shined upon it (vs 8). ((See also Matt. 22:37-40))
This is actually the topic for the verses (1John 2:7-11).
The person who SAYS he is a Christian and lives in hate for a brother Christian exemplifies living WITHOUT the "light" of Christ (vs 9)!
While, to LOVE the brother, regardless of faults and failures, is to walk IN the "light" of Christ (vs 10).
Now, let's look at verse 11.
This verse has some very STERN warnings for us!
If one walks in the "darkness" of hate toward a brother, then one cannot SEE where he is going!
All things are tainted by that sin!
Before we can exhibit that we are "approved of God" (2Tim. 2:15), we must:
study the Word and apply it to our lives!
Love ya,
Bruce