DAILY TEXT, Today's Sunday October 23, Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life abides in no murderer (1 John 3:15).

DAILY TEXT, Sunday October 23, 2022,  Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life abides in no murderer (1 John 3:15).

Examine the Scriptures Every Day 202 2

Sunday October 23

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life abides in no murderer (1 John 3:15).

The apostle John warned us that we should not hate our brothers. If we don't listen, we expose ourselves to being manipulated by Satan (1 John 2:11). The same thing happened to some at the end of the first century. Satan did all he could to foment hatred and division among God's servants. By the time Juan wrote to them, some with that same satanic spirit had crept into the congregation. One of them was Diotrephes, who was causing serious divisions in a congregation. He had no respect for the traveling overseers sent by the governing body. He was so arrogant that he even tried to kick out of the congregation those who wanted to treat brothers he didn't like with hospitality (3 John 9:10). Today, Satan continues to try his best to use the "divide and rule" tactic. Let us never allow hate to divide us. w21.01 11 para. 14.11. 

How do many faithful brothers show that they love Jehovah and their brothers?

Many faithful Christians have to work full time to provide for themselves and their families. Still, they support God's organization in every way they can. For example, some help with relief efforts, others work on construction sites, and we can all donate to the global work. This is how they show their love for God and their neighbor. In addition, every week we show love to our brothers by attending the meetings despite being tired, by participating in them despite being nervous, and by striving to encourage others before or after the meeting even though we are also we have our problems (Heb. 10:24, 25). How much we appreciate everything our dear brothers and sisters do.

How else did John show his love for the brothers?

Juan showed his love for the brothers by congratulating them, but also by giving them advice. For example, in his letters he praised them for their faith and his good works, but he also gave them a serious warning about sin (1 John 1:8-2:1, 13, 14). Similarly, we do well to encourage our brothers for the good things they do. But if we notice that someone is developing a bad attitude or a bad habit, we can show him our love by gently telling him what he needs to hear. It takes courage to do so, but the Bible says that true friends sharpen, or correct, one another (Prov. 27:17).

What should we not do?

We can also show our love for the brothers by not doing certain things. For example, we should not be easily offended by what they say. Let's think about what happened some time before the death of Jesus. He told his disciples that in order to have eternal life they must eat his flesh and drink his blood (John 6:53-57). Many were scandalized and abandoned him. But his true friends, including Juan, were loyal and stayed with him. They didn't understand what he meant and were probably puzzled, but they didn't take offense or assume he was wrong. Rather, they trusted him because they knew he always told the truth (John 6:60, 66-69). How important it is that we are not easily offended by what our brothers say, but that we give them the benefit of the doubt (Prov. 18:13; Eccl. 7:9).