~~ Exodus20:13 (NIV84) ~~ You shall
not murder.
The sixth commandment is “Thou shalt not
kill” (KJV), but whether you realize it or not; or like it or not, you’re guilty of
it! Yes, YOU!
I Know; It Was a Shocker to
Me Too!
I know
what you’re thinking. “But I never hurt
anyone, let alone kill someone.”
I’ve been thinking a lot about this commandment in the last few days. What got me started was hearing a story from a friend (who I’ll call Maggie) about one of her friends (who I’ll call Annie). I know, that’s gossip; but that’s a point for another blog post.
Here’s how the story went: Annie doesn’t get along well with one of her male co-workers (who I’ll call Miguel). As a matter of fact she states that she hates him. Even to the point she’s pondered quitting her job to get away from him.
One day Miguel said to a third co-worker (who I’ll call George) “I think Annie hates me.”
George runs back to Annie telling her what Miguel said. Her response was “Good. I’m glad he knows I hate him.”
Annie tells Maggie this story, and then Maggie tells me. Then, I spend the next few days pondering over the situation because the whole story bothered me. That’s because Annie calls herself a Christian. How is it that she can say that she loves Jesus and still be open about such hatred for another person? The truth is very few of us have walked through life without hating someone at one point or another. This is where we get ourselves into trouble. You see 1John 3:15 says “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” There’s only one way to read that statement. It’s not one that leaves any room for other interpretation.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this commandment in the last few days. What got me started was hearing a story from a friend (who I’ll call Maggie) about one of her friends (who I’ll call Annie). I know, that’s gossip; but that’s a point for another blog post.
Here’s how the story went: Annie doesn’t get along well with one of her male co-workers (who I’ll call Miguel). As a matter of fact she states that she hates him. Even to the point she’s pondered quitting her job to get away from him.
One day Miguel said to a third co-worker (who I’ll call George) “I think Annie hates me.”
George runs back to Annie telling her what Miguel said. Her response was “Good. I’m glad he knows I hate him.”
Annie tells Maggie this story, and then Maggie tells me. Then, I spend the next few days pondering over the situation because the whole story bothered me. That’s because Annie calls herself a Christian. How is it that she can say that she loves Jesus and still be open about such hatred for another person? The truth is very few of us have walked through life without hating someone at one point or another. This is where we get ourselves into trouble. You see 1John 3:15 says “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” There’s only one way to read that statement. It’s not one that leaves any room for other interpretation.
“Commandment Number Six: Guilty!”
So many
people don’t realize that hating someone puts them on the same level in God’s
court as someone who’s murdered another person.
The Bible has many references to how we should treat our enemy.
- Leviticus 19:17 - Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.
- Luke 6:27 - But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you
- 1 John 4:20 - If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
- John 13:35 - By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
- Matthew 7:12 - So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
- Psalm 97:10 - Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
- Proverbs 25:21-22 - If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
If you
hate someone, then you’ve broken the sixth commandment. It’s hard to love your enemy, but it’s worth
the effort. Do you really want to stand before God in His
court on Judgement Day and risk Him telling you that you’re guilty?
Let’s Pray
~~ Dear God ~~ You are so merciful,
loving, and patient with us. So very
often my heart is not in the right place toward other people around me. Thank You for Your Word that teaches me how
to condition my heart so that I will not be found guilty in Your Court. Please help me to change any hatred in my
heart to love for my enemies. In Jesus
name, AMEN.
Something to Think About
Here's one of many videos by Ray Comfort that will make you think about how many commandments you've broken. He has a way of opening people's eyes.
Something to Think About
Here's one of many videos by Ray Comfort that will make you think about how many commandments you've broken. He has a way of opening people's eyes.
Now It’s Your Turn
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