Hey, does anyone have a catchy title for this post?

I was reading 1 John today, and noticed chapter 3 (I seem to notice a lot of things. Hmmm). Anyway, a couple of verses jumped out and grabbed my ears. Here's one:

"Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you" (1 John 3:13)

Hmmm. If we were truly christians, not only the world would, should hate us, but we wouldn't be surprised.

"We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:14-15)

I still am working on loving EVERYONE. It is difficult, but Jesus told us to love our enemies. Think about it . He died, so that ANYONE, even Paul, who persecuted his followers, and was a chief enemy of God, would have life. He is the ultimate example of loving your enemies. He died for them. The following verse says:

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."

We cannot love without his help. It's just not possible. But when we pray for love, we have to have faith.

"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." (James 1:6)

"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:17-18)

We need to show our love to people by "deeds and truth". But when you don't, it's still ok.

"For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater then our heart, and he knows everything." (1 John 3:20)