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I let the silence linger a moment longer, then pressed on.
“We should love one another. Not with a love that is fickle and fleeting, but with a love that is enduring and true. A love that transcends our human understanding.”
I paused, gazing into the flickering flames of the fire. “Do you remember the story of Cain and Abel?” I asked. My brothers nodded, their faces grave. “Cain belonged to the evil one, and he murdered his brother out of jealousy, because Abel’s actions were righteous and his were not.”
I felt the weight of their gazes on me as I continued, “Do not be surprised if the world hates you for your righteousness. The world hated Abel too. But we know that we have passed from death to life because we love each other.”
A murmur of agreement passed through my brothers as I spoke these words. They understood what I was saying, even if they didn’t fully comprehend the depth of it yet.
“Anyone who does not love remains in death,” I warned them. “And anyone who hates a brother or sister is no better than Cain himself.”
The fire crackled and popped, punctuating my words with an ominous note.
“We know what love is because Jesus Christ laid down His life for us,” I said softly. “And we ought to do the same for our brothers and sisters.”
My voice grew quiet as I let the enormity of that statement sink in. Jesus had given up everything for us; could we do any less for each other?
“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,” I continued, “how can the love of God be in that person?”
It was a question meant to provoke thought rather than elicit an answer.
“Dear children,” I said finally, “let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. Love is not just a feeling; it’s an action. It’s a choice we make every day, to put others before ourselves, to sacrifice our wants for their needs.”
And with that, I let the silence fall once more, letting my words seep into their hearts and minds. We sat there together, bound by our shared faith and love, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
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