If we are in the truth and in the light, we will have a pure desire to have God reconcile us with those whom He has revealed to our hearts. If He is leading us, we will be able to overcome all hindrances that would stand in the way of making peace between us. This includes those hindrances that stealthily hide in the depths of our hearts such as pride, bitterness, envy, unforgiveness, and our will.

Love is always in the light; hate is a work of darkness. We see that not only is the brother who hates in the darkness, he also is walking in the darkness. This is contrary to walking in the light or the Spirit. The Apostle Paul stated in Galatians 5:16, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” He also stated that the fruit of the Spirit consisted of this nature, Galatians 5:22, “… love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” So, if we are in Him and He is lighting the way, we will have His nature influencing us. As the scripture says, 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

This verse also points out that if we are in the darkness, we won’t know where we are going. Have you ever found yourself in the dark? What does it do to your confidence? What happens to your fear level? What happens to your balance? What happens to your pain level? Doesn’t it hurt more to stumble in the dark than it does in the light?

Matthew 7:12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

This verse (and Luke 6:31) declare the golden rule for living. It shows us how far off the mark we truly are. We would think that treating others just like we would like to be treated wouldn’t be a big deal, but how many of us can truly state with a clean and unconvicted conscience that we have? The truth is we haven’t. We are usually so self-centered and selfish that we never stop to think about how we are treating others, especially while we are motivated by fear and in the pursuit of our own desires.