The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Prayer-Soldier

â€œBeloved, I am writing no new commandment to you but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. And yet I do write a new commandment to you, which holds true in him and among you, for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall. Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.â€ (1 John 2:7-11)

To love God and one another are the commandments upon which all the law and prophecy is based. It is not possible to hate another and fulfill such commandments; therefore, if we find hate for another in our heart, we are walking away from the Lord. When we find an absence of love, when we find hate, we do not find the Lord, we only find the evil one.

There are many ways to which the evil one tempts us to hate. Hate is found in how we handle the differences amongst ourselves. Hate is found when we judge one another. Hate is the fuel to cause divisions amongst the children of God. God made each of us unique; therefore there will be differences amongst us. We have all been given different gifts in which to live in this world. We should use our differences in service of one another, not to set ourselves apart in selfishness and hate.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: â€œNow, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.â€ The father and mother of the child were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, â€œBehold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.â€ (Luke 2:25-35)

How would we feel if we were able to look into the face of our Lord? Would we raise our hearts in prayer in thanks and praise at the blessings God had granted us to see? To the world a child was born and from that moment, no life would be left untouched. Through Him, the truth of the heart, the truth of the soul would be revealed. Some will try to deceive their neighbor, but He knows the truth of every heart, of every soul.

Let us rejoice and be glad, for though we may fail in sin, through our faith in Him we shall be saved. Those who remain in faith will be raised and those who walk in deceit will eventually be revealed and will fall. If we seek to be filled with the holy Spirit, we will walk with Him, we will follow His ways, we will find the means to fill our hearts with love so that there is no resting place within us for hate. If we banish hate, we banish evil and we have the opportunity of peace in our day.

May the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier