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Are You Standing In Hot Coals?

Lesson Twelve: by turtle

1 John 3:12-14 KJV
(12) Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him?
Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
(13) Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
(14) We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth
not his brother abideth in death.

Cain killed Abel, because he hated that God look favorable on Abel and not him.

Genesis 4:3-7 KJV
(3) And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering
unto the LORD.
(4) And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had
respect unto Abel and to his offering:
(5) But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his
countenance fell.
(6) And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
(7) If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And
unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

God talks to Cain about doing well and doing bad. Yet Cain anger was boiling. Cain was upset. Have
you ever been picked over someone else because you were not good enough. Yet truth be told you
could of done better. Cain refused to listen to God so he allowed his anger to get more then just the
best of him he slew his brother.

Genesis 4:8 KJV
(8) And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain
rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Cain hated Abel. Cain anger caused Cain to sin. God warned him about sinning. God warned Adam
and Eve about sinning. The difference is the sin against God and a sin against your brother is noted as
to different sins. Cain actually commits both sins. He disobeys God and He shows no love to his
brother when he becomes jealous and kills Abel.

To hate someone is to kill them. Are you a killer? Have you ever used the words “I hate you,” or are
you always nice. Do you harbor hate in your heart. One thing we can not do is love and hate at the
same time. To hate is to desire evil. I do not know about you but this puts I know at least me in the
hot seat. There is a difference in hating sin and hating a person. If you hate sin, nothing wrong with
that in God’s eyes, but we are commanded to love one another. Commanded to love God.

A few years ago I ran into old class mate. He was one that picked endlessly at me. He was what most
would call a bully. However God changed him. Now to tell the truth, I could never work with this
person. Not because of hate or even dislike, simple truth is sometimes past is hard to forget. I know for
me, I just might stick my foot in my mouth sooner or later if fiction ever occurred. It might happen
anyway if it was someone else, but thing is you do not want the future to dictate a past situation. Is
that love. Yeah I think so. Sometimes moving aside to allow someone else to achieve a goal is
important.

The truth is hate is a big word and to love sometimes it takes a lot to love. Yet by abiding in Christ we
are able to love. It is through His grace that we are able to love. We need to love our sisters and
brothers in Christ. We need to love when we see a need. We need to love when see their pain. If we
ignore the truth and side step the hurt of our church family, we fail.

1 John 3:14-17 KJV
(14) We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth
not his brother abideth in death.
(15) Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life
abiding in him.
(16) Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay
down our lives for the brethren.
(17) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of
compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Choosing to bully fellow Christians is not love. To bully the world is not love. To love is to lay down
your life for a friend like Christ did for us. Are we willing to go the extra mile for a friend, for our
family, for those around us. Are we willing to protect and serve others. Christ gave all He had to
demonstrate his love for us. God allowed His own begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins. For
our transgressions. That is a friend. The good news is Christ rose again the third day.

1 John 3:18-24 KJV
(18) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
(19) And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
(20) For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
(21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
(22) And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those
things that are pleasing in his sight.
(23) And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and
love one another, as he gave us commandment.
(24) And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know
that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Christ spoke truth and demonstrated love through out his ministry and even today in our daily life.
When we love it can not just be in words in needs to be in our actions. And sometimes love is saying
be all you can be for the Lord. Do all you can do. Sometimes it is saying love with compassion by
proving food on the table for someone, or helping with expense. Sometimes it giving a ride to the store
or to town when someone needs it. Sometimes it helping that little old lady across the road. Sometimes
it has simple as opening the door of a store for that mother carrying five bags of something and five
screaming kids in tow. And sometimes it is even knowing when to back off and not to push someone.

If we are doing what God command we can have confidence that what we ask of God it will be done.
That is the promise. Yet even so there is a condition one must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and
love one another. If we do those things that Christ commanded we know then He dwells in us. To
walk by the power of God to love in His strength and by His Spirit. See I know to love unconditionally
is love of God in us.