1 John – Week 5 – Day 4

READ 

1 John 3:11-13 

11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 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. 13 So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 

The apostle John stresses the importance of believers loving others. Hate can lead to murder as it did in Cain and Abel’s case. Cain could not put up with his brother doing what was right. If that occurred in their lives, John is letting believers know they should not be surprised when the unbelieving world hates them.  

REFLECT 

How are unbelievers treating you? Normally unbelievers are not concerned as long as Christ-followers keep their biblical beliefs to themselves. What experience have you had in this regard? 

RESPOND 

For the background that 1 John refers to about Cain, read Genesis 4:1-8. Read also James 4:1-3 to see the reason for quarrels and fights.