The Christian life is not built on speculation but on a clear command: to love one another. John reminds us that this call to love is ancient, yet always relevant. Love is the evidence of belonging to God, while hate reveals the darkness of the heart.

Scripture
“This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.” — 1 John 3:11–12 (NLT)

Reflection
Love is not an optional extra in the Christian life—it is the core of our calling. From the very start, God has called His people to love. John uses the example of Cain to show the danger of hatred. Cain’s jealousy and anger led him to murder his brother, showing that hatred is rooted in the evil one.

For believers, the opposite is true: love flows from the new life we have in Christ. John says, “If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life” (1 John 3:14, NLT). Love is the evidence of new birth. To hate is to remain in spiritual death.

This love is not sentimental but sacrificial. It reflects the very love of Christ, who laid down His life for us. True Christian love is action, not merely words—it seeks the good of others at a cost to ourselves.

Application
Consider today how you can put love into action. Is there someone in need you can serve, someone lonely you can encourage, or someone difficult you can choose to forgive? Ask God to replace bitterness with compassion, and let Christ’s sacrificial love shape your own.

References
“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” — 1 John 3:18 (NLT)

Prayer
Lord, thank You for showing me what love looks like in Jesus Christ. Guard my heart from bitterness or hatred. Teach me to love others in action and truth, even when it costs me. Let my life bear witness that I have passed from death to life in You. Amen.