Love is What It’s All About

November 12, 2022

“Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.” 1 John 3:15

Anger is what we feel when someone injures us, both physically, mentally, and emotionally. After feeling the pain, our body pours adrenaline into the bloodstream, and we get ready to do either of two things: fight or flee. The product of anger is hate. When we let it sit in our hearts, simmering slowly until it takes on the full flavor of hate, the final recipe from the ingredients of anger and hate is vengeance.

We don’t have to commit murder in order to commit “murder literally.”  All we have to do is let hatred simmer in our hearts when someone hurts us. 

The Bible says in Leviticus 19:17-18:

Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Ever wonder why God ended his statement with “I AM THE LORD?” 

We cannot argue with God on this subject. He wants to implant in our stubborn hearts that this is a serious offense and the law is final.

We can’t say, “God, if you only knew how much that person hurt me, you’d probably strike that person down instantly with lightning bolts from Your eyes!” (The truth is – He already KNOWS what happened to you.)

You see, Jesus suffered the ultimate humiliation at the hands of the very people He loves. He did it for you and for me. And, yes, He even did it for those who have hurt you. 

I know how it feels. God knows how it feels. But because we love Him, we have to obey Him.

To love God is to obey God. It means loving our neighbors as ourselves. All the time.

As I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 19:18

Written by Erwin Cabalang, Pastor, RFTH Philippines