Bible study prepared by Samuel Thambusamy
You can tell God’s children from the devil’s children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other. From the beginning you were told that we must love each other. Don’t be like Cain, who belonged to the devil and murdered his own brother. Why did he murder him? He did it because his brother was good, and he was evil. My friends, don’t be surprised if the people of this world hate you. Our love for each other proves that we have gone from death to life. But if you don’t love each other, you are still under the power of death. If you hate each other, you are murderers, and we know that murderers do not have eternal life. We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. That’s why we must give our lives for each other. If we have all we need and see one of our own people in need, we must have pity on that person, or else we cannot say we love God. Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it. When we love others, we know that we belong to the truth, and we feel at ease in the presence of God.
(1Jo 3:10-19 CEV)
For further reflection
- What is this passage about? What does this passage tell about Love?
- How do we know love? How can we tell if some one belongs to God or not? What does our love for each other prove? What does our hatred prove?
- How are we to show love? What are the benefits of loving one another? We must give our lives for each other! What has been your experience?
- We must help people in need. Otherwise, we cannot say we love God! What has been your experience of people helping you when you are in need? How have you reciprocated such Christian love?
- How does this passage link ‘love’ and ‘truth’?
- What is God telling me through this passage? What am I going to do in response to God’s word?
To do:
