“The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother is in the darkness until now.” 1 John 2:9 HCSB

Until now! We have been told the truth of our love toward the brothers and sisters in God’s church. The light has shown into our lives. So now we see the light it is now our choice to walk toward the light of loving our brothers and sisters or stay in the darkness. We have a choice to love or to hate.

“All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.”

Ephesians 4:31 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/eph.4.31.hcsb

“So rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.”

1 Peter 2:1 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/1pe.2.1.hcsb

Hating our brothers and sisters may start out small as bitterness. But the more we let bitterness rule in our life it invites anger along. The longer anger hangs around it starts including wrath in our thoughts of our brothers and sisters. The longer wrath is allowed to stay shouting is encouraged to join in. When shouting is present slander soon joins the fight. After a while of slander, we begin to see malice taking form in our hate of our brother. What is malice? Good question. Malice is wanting something bad to happen to someone. Why would we want something bad to happen to our brother and sister in Jesus? When something bad happens to one member of the body it affects the whole body. So in order to not let bitterness grow into malice, we must stop it ASAP with thankfulness. Instead of being bitter that they got what you expected to get, rejoice with and for them that God saw fit to bless them for they have probably worked for it.

“For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own slaves and turned over his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one — to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. In the same way the man with two earned two more. But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I’ve earned five more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy! ’ “Then the man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I’ve earned two more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy! ’ “Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a difficult man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’ “But his master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy slave! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, then you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money back with interest. “ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10 talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Matthew 25:14-29 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/mat.25.14-29.hcsb