1 JohnNäide

“Love one another.” In verse twelve, John reminds the reader of the broken relationship between Cain and Abel. It’s a relationship marked by jealousy, anger, and eventually, the world’s first human death, which just so happened to be murder (See Genesis 4). John shows us how easily we can find ourselves in the story of Cain and Abel. Most Christians during this time would immediately identify with Abel: the ones persecuted by their Jewish brothers for doing the right things by Jesus’s standard. If you have been a follower of Jesus for any length of time, you have undoubtedly been treated differently by someone, felt left out of a situation, or felt rejected or even hated by some aspect of culture. You have felt Abel’s struggle in his relationship with his brother. John reminds us that this is exactly what Jesus told us to expect (Matt. 10:22). But John also warns us in the latter verses of today’s reading that we are just as likely to act like Cain, letting pride, jealousy, and hatred come between ourselves and those around us. John is encouraging the reader here to choose the path of Abel by doing what is right in God’s sight, no matter what the consequences may be or what anyone may think. But he also implores the reader to do so by loving those around you. Today I encourage you to play the role of Abel; choose to stand firm and love well and watch what God does with your relationships.

Prayer Points

• Ask God to reveal areas in your life where you have let pride and jealousy come between a relationship.