Focus
Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.
Read
1 John 3:11-16
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 from 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,[a] 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[b] are murderers, and you know that murderers 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.
Reflect
If a person stands out in a crowd, they are noticed. If a person is going in another direction than everyone else, they are noticed. If a person says yes when everyone else is saying no, they are noticed. If a person has found a truth when everyone else says truth cannot be found, they will be noticed. The writer of John takes it one step further and states to his readers that you will not just be noticed, but you will be hated. If a person loves those that hate them, they will be noticed. If a person gives their life for those that hate them, they will be noticed. If a person chooses to love and serve instead of hating and becoming a stumbling block to someone finding salvation and life, they will be noticed. They will be noticed because they will be loving and giving of their life for others just as their savior Jesus has done.
Pray
God, help us to not be like the world in which we live. Help us to love and not hate. Help us to love so that we do not become a stumbling to someone that you are trying to bring back to you. Help us to understand the importance of our witness, because people should see you living in us. Help us to love as we teach the truth of your word, help us to love us we serve, and help us to love even as we are hated. God, just help us to love. Amen.
Go with God!
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