Hate and Murder

Scripture:

I John 3:15 "Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart.  And you know that murderers don't have eternal life in them".

Observation:

John is a very direct author and writer.  His message is very clear and he doesn't mix words.  Here he basically says that hatred of a brother or sister is murder at heart and murderers don't go to heaven.  It is the same junk working in us to cause us to hate as it is that causes people to murder.

Application:

Hate is a very strong word that, as a Christian, we should never use toward anyone.  John tells us that when we hate, we do not have eternal life in us.  In other words, you cannot have Jesus living in you and hate anyone because Jesus doesn't hate anyone.  One of the primary fruit of the Spirit is love and it's opposite is hate.  When we are full of Jesus, we are full of love.  When we are full of ourselves or the devil, we are full of hate.  We need to be very cautious in this area because God looks at it the same as murder.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, Thank you for sharing this with me today.  I have recently heard people who think they are Christians using this hate word and it really bothered me.  Thanks for letting it stand out today and helping me to understand how You feel about hatred.  Help me to be a peacemaker and to bring caution when I hear someone say they hate another person.

Yours,
Jeff