Our On-Going Dialogue With God's Word

Scripture – 1 John 3:11-15: ¹¹This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. ¹²Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. ¹³Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. ¹⁴We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. ¹⁵Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) I find references like this very interesting. Sometimes the New Testament writers put their interpretation on an Old Testament story or passage. In vs. 12, John reflects on the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4). He adds motives to the brothers that are not described in Genesis. I wonder what John’s thinking was here. Was that a common interpretation in his day? Was this something he came up with on his own? And as I read the Bible today and interpret its meaning (good Baptist that I am), I face another question. Do I have to include John’s interpretation as part of my reading of Genesis 4?

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) As I read, I will stay in dialogue with the written word and the Holy Spirit. I will trust the Spirit to bring out truth for today.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, thank you for your living Word. It’s a living document that keeps a constant dialogue flowing within me. Teach me to read with an open mind and heart that I might find your word for me and the church today.

An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting this Sunday morning, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Café area.