INTRODUCTION

Many people, in the strength of their own flesh, seek to keep the law. Yet, the Bible says the law is “comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Strength of flesh has never been, nor ever will be, a sustaining strength to do right. Love, on the other hand, “covereth all sins” (Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
See All...). Love refuses to murder, only executing righteous judgment in accordance with the will of God. We read in scripture that when murders abound, the love of many grows cold (Matthew 24:4-12 [4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. [5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [6] And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. [8] All these are the beginning of sorrows. [9] Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. [10] And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. [11] And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. [12] And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
See All...). Abel could have lived another day had Cain loved the Lord and loved his brother more than he loved himself. The people of God are to be a people full of the love of God, and as such, they should place the utmost value upon the lives of the innocent.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): When Joseph was governor of Egypt, he could have easily sought out revenge upon his brothers. They later asked his forgiveness (Genesis 50:15-21 [15] And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. [16] And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, [17] So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. [18] And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. [19] And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? [20] But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. [21] Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
  See All...), but he had already forgiven them (Genesis 42:8And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
  See All..., 21-24a; Genesis 45:14-15 [14] And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. [15] Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
  See All...). Through this type of forgiveness, Joseph displayed his love of God.
• (For everyone): Read Matthew 22:34-40 [34] But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. [35] Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, [36] Master, which is the great commandment in the law? [37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
  See All.... What concept is included in both commandments mentioned by the Lord Jesus? What did the Lord mean in verse 40 when He said, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”?
• Are there people you would rather see dead? Are those individuals saved? How could love move you to desire for them to live rather than die?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to give you a greater love for those around you.
• Ask God to help you understand that love spares life.

HYMN

BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS

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