English, Booklet 2, Chapter 12 - Do You Still Hate Your Brother?

This page in HTML4 - Print - Bottom

Home -- English -- True Light - 12. Do You Still Hate Your Brother?

This page in: Cebuano -- ENGLISH -- French -- German ? -- Hausa -- Igbo -- Indonesian -- Somali -- Telugu -- Yoruba

The Darkness Disappears and the TRUE LIGHT is Now Shining

An Important Booklet for You

12. Do You Still Hate Your Brother?

The darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and HATES his brother is still in DARKNESS. Whoever LOVES his brother abides in the LIGHT, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1 JOHN 2:8-11)

During his long life, John the apostle of love came across a variety of wrong ideas and much darkness. He saw that philosophers and founders of religions have come and gone. Some of their tombs were highly venerated, others were neglected. By contrast, the tomb of Christ lies empty, because He is alive. He has risen from the dead. His love is immortal, His power is invincible and His Gospel still saves.

When John discovered this truth, he testified boldly that the darkness had gone and its force was broken; death was vanquished and the life of God was manifested. The era of darkness has ended and the age of grace is here. Rays from Christ’s love shine upon you, granting to all who approach Him enlightenment, pardon and divine power. Christ is that powerful light which does not wane, because He humbled Himself and died on the cross for the sins of the world.

Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the Father. (PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11)

What is regrettable is that some believers still keep traces of hatred in their hearts, rejecting some brothers and sisters. John declares to them that light and darkness cannot coexist in the same place. Either you forgive your brother all his sins without reserve and forget them forever, or your eye is dimmed and you walk in darkness. Jesus taught us saying,

LOVE your enemies,

BLESS those who curse you,

DO GOOD to those who hate you, and

PRAY FOR those who despitefully use you,

and persecute you;

that you may be SONS OF YOUR FATHER

who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:44-45

Through the influence of Christ’s Spirit within, us we are able to make friends of our worst enemies. How much more our brothers and sisters in the Spirit? They are our eternal relatives. So, we forgive them and forget their lapses. We approach them, embrace them, converse with them, confide in them and share our burdens with them.

Every offense or misunderstanding separates you from your fellowman. So, don’t wait until the offender comes to you and apologizes. You go to him and make it up; approach him and ask his forgiveness. The one who apologizes first is stronger in spirit. The one who waits, as being in the right until the other comes to him, is still weak and puny in his spiritual life.

In a certain Christian African tribe there is a custom between spouses: If they disagree over something and exchange unkind words and one of them later comes to his senses and understands the problem, he or she stands in a corner of the house and says in an audible voice: I am foolish. If the other is strong in spirit he stands in the opposite corner and says: I am more foolish. Then both gradually walk towards one another and one says to the other: I wronged you and the other replies: I wronged you more. In this way the two are reconciled to each other, if they are believers living in the grace of their God.

Pray God to grant you the spirit of humility and ask Him to change your mind and thinking so that you will be established in His word and learn better the eternal principles of judgment:

DO NOT JUDGE, or you too will be judged.

For in the same way you judge others,

you will be judged,

and with the measure you use,

it will be measured to you.

Why do you look at the SPECK in your brother's eye

and do not notice the PLANK in your own eye?

Matthew 7:1-3

A soldier went with his group to a swimming pool. In the course of the training he noticed another soldier from a tribe hostile to his about to drown. His first reaction was to leave him alone but the Spirit of God convicted him and changed his thinking. As a result, he dived towards that man, who clutched him in despair nearly drowning his rescuer. The rescuer had to strike him sharply making him unconscious, then he dragged him to the shore. Setting him down he bent over him, using mouth to mouth resuscitation and bodily massage until signs of life returned to his face.

On the following day, the rescued man approached his deliverer, mumbling shamefacedly: Thank you, because you saved me; I shall not forget this deed as long as I live. Later his father, together with the chiefs of his tribe, visited the parents of the believing soldier and bowed before them as a sign of gratitude for the rescue of their son. In this way peace was restored between these two tribes who would have been at odds for a long time.

Had the believing soldier left the drowning man to his fate, only his conscience would have been troubled, but the Spirit of God living within him overcame the temptation of darkness. God’s holiness banished the hatred that the evil one had put in his heart. The love of Jesus conquered; the darkness was dispelled and the true light shone brightly.

What is your condition? Can you remember someone who bothers you? Thank the Lord for him! Through him the Lord wants to teach you victory over self so that you will love your enemy as God loves you. You will not find rest in your heart from the conviction of God’s Spirit until you pray for the good of your enemy and serve him, guided by the Spirit of the Lord.

This page in HTML4 - Print - Top