Read the Word: 1 John 3:11-18
Meditate on the Word:
I’m not sure when being entertained by murder became so normal. We have loved watching fictional detectives solve fictional murders for generations. These programs accelerated in the 1990s with Law & Order and its associated shows. Then, in the 2000s, we discovered that we loved watching fictional crime scene investigators take down bad guys in Las Vegas, Miami, and New York. We also discovered that we can be enthralled listening to stories of real murders. Keith Morrison’s soothing voice draws us into the story of the one who “lit up the room when she walked in.” We always want the bad guy to get caught. Now, there are over 200 “true crime” podcasts available for your listening pleasure.
Today’s passage is a good reminder that the very first murder in human history was in the second generation. Cain’s hatred of his brother led him to call him into a field and kill him. The link between hatred and murder is real, and it is strong. Hatred is a short fuse that lights a devastating bomb. This is why we are so strongly commanded to love instead of hate. Certainly, we will be hated. We are obligated to not return that hate, but instead, to do good to our enemies. As Christ demonstrated His love to us while we were still His enemies, we must do that to others.
Pray the Word:
Repent of any ill will that you are harboring toward someone. Ask our Lord to show you a way to demonstrate love to that person.
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