In Deed And Truth

Beloved: This is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another, unlike Cain who belonged to the Evil One and slaughtered his brother. Why did he slaughter him? Because his own works were evil, and those of his brother righteous. 

Do not be amazed, then, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. Whoever does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.

Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts before him in whatever our hearts condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God. (1 John 3:11-21)

The unknown author of this first letter, someone calling himself John, is direct and to the point, one we all often miss despite its obvious meaning and implication: we should love one another.  Perhaps simply respect one another.  

Very unfortunately, like Cain who belonged to the Evil One, we choose to “slaughter” our brothers and sisters through malicious speech and writings especially on social media and through texting.  Chances are this past Christmas Day and now with the New Year the slaughtering continued and still goes on with many “bodies” having been left on the side of the road, so to speak.  

Consider that: “Whoever does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother [and sister] is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him [her].”  Many of us “children,” refuse to love "in deed and truth."  Many of us act like children refusing to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  “Laying down one’s life” might simply mean accepting a person for who they are and not insisting they be who we want them to be. That can be challenging.

This John got it right. We pass from death to life when we love our brothers [and sisters].  So, let’s live the way God intended in deed and truth.

Deacon David Pierce