Day 11 – Love Does Not Hate

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” 1 John 4:20-21 (NKJV).

(a) It’s not always easy to let love lead us forward instead of hate, especially in the wake of tragic events. But each of us has a God-given ability to do so. The Bible describes love as the essence of God’s true and unconditional love. we each have a God-given capacity to seek a different, spiritual perspective of what’s going on and feel and experience the infinite love of the Divine, even when hate and tragedy loom large. So much of human progress depends on where we turn for our understanding of unfolding experiences. Are we listening to and for the voice of hate, for example, or the voice of divine love, which speaks to all? In this respect, Jesus’ teachings to be a profoundly helpful and hope-bringing guide. Christ Jesus’ life wasn’t insulated from violence, but he showed his followers how to practice love toward those who opposed them. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way; And the perverse mouth I hate” John 13:34-35 (NKJV).

Love is described as patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails”. This is God’s description of love, and because God is love, this is what He is like. The gospel of Jesus Christ is based on love, and we are to love like He does. God loved us and sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we would not perish but have eternal life. No one is beyond the love of Christ in the world and when we accept Him as our Savior, His love dwells in our hearts. God’s love for us is unconditional, and we don’t do anything to deserve it. He showed us how to love others, even when they may hate us. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” John 13:34-35 (NKJV).

Everyone you encounter will not be friendly and others will become your enemies for reasons best known to them. Just because others hate us and choose to persecute us doesn’t mean that we are to treat them the same way. Jesus wants us to love them and pray for them because He knows they need His saving power. Keeping in mind that love is a fruit of the Spirit, and it exists in our hearts when we accept Christ and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. With a heart full of God’s love, you can love others even those who behave in an unloving way toward you. For us to love like Jesus did, we have to start by loving ourselves. You can only love others and do things for them the way you do for yourself. God shows kindness to all. In love, Jesus went about doing good to everyone without partiality. By being kind to our neighbors and others we encounter every day, we are showing them the love of Christ. To love like Christ, we don’t display hate when others display hatred. We are to be kind-hearted to others even when we don’t think they deserve it. The love of Christ is not only for those we know but the strangers we meet along the way as well. “Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also” Hebrews 13:1-3 (NKJV).

God is love and if we call ourselves godly, then we need to show others the love of Christ. Love is something we show others whether they deserve it or not in obedience to God. It can be hard to love those we consider difficult, but the grace of God will help us do it. Pray for a loving and caring heart toward others, and that you will be a reflection of the love of Christ in the world. Love is an attribute of God. We can help others out of the goodness of our hearts. Instead of treating others in an impersonal way, we can be compassionate, friendly, and loving with them even when we don’t know them. Love is a core aspect of God’s character, His Person. God’s love is in no sense in conflict with His holiness, righteousness, justice, or even His wrath. All of God’s attributes are in perfect harmony. Everything God does is loving, just as everything He does is just and right. God is the perfect example of true love. When we love our enemies, we are demonstrating the unconditional love of Christ in our hearts, we should love them and desire the best for them. Jesus did not want us to return evil for evil but to overcome evil with good. By praying for our enemies, we are inclined to let go of the ill will we have for them in our hearts because of what they have done to us. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” Matthew 5:44 (NKJV).