“HATE!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 495

October 6, 2020///

Yesterday as I was reading in 1^st John, I was suddenly struck by how we throw around the phrase of “I Hate”!

I realize a lot of the time we are talking about things or task or jobs and those would not fall under what I am writing about today, although we may be hating what God wants to use to draw us further into trusting Him in all things.

But have you ever said about a person, “I hate him or her”!  Of course you have, just as everyone has. If we are honest with ourselves, we may have thought it many more times than we said it!

On the other hand, I would declare that no one reading this would ever commit murder.  It is beyond each of us to even imagine that.

The scripture I was reading told me otherwise.

1 John 3:14-15 (KJV)
¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
¹⁵ Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Let that sink in for a moment! If we hate another person, we are a murderer!!!!

This scripture does not say, if you hate them without a cause, or if you speak it out you are a murderer. It says if you hate someone, you are a murderer.

We know God looks at our heart and so if we feel hate in our heart and never even give voice to it, He sees, and we are a murderer.

1 John 3:16 (KJV)
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Wow, do we really Love like that.  Do we get out of our comfort zone for others or are we looking out only for ourselves?

These are hard questions, but I have good news!

The good part is that God forgives when we repent and ask Him to.  Then He and only He can fill us with Love to replace that hate.

It is through trusting in Jesus Christ and relinquishing our lives to Him, that we can Love others with the Love of God regardless of the circumstances.

It is allowing the Love of God to flow in and through us!

Can we Love our enemies or even those close to us who hurt us so badly?

Can we say, I forgive and Love??

I know this is hard, but we need to understand that whether we make good or bad choices, each person was created by a loving God who breaths into each person, the breath of life!

Matthew 5:43-44 (KJV)
⁴³ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Love your enemies, pray for those who despitefully use you!! What ???? That is a concept that only the Holy Spirit living in us through Jesus Christ can accomplish.

We were created with choices and from birth a baby understands selfish desires.  How many arguments among children are “no, it is mine” or I want, I, I, I, me, me, me.  What a child must be taught is sharing and giving.

The same is true as we grow up. Self-desires and preservations are prevalent, and it is only through receiving the unconditional Love from God and Jesus, that we to can Love unconditionally and without reservation.

It is only through receiving that Love that we can live out a forgiving, loving life instead of being a murderer by feeling hate or declaring it with our mouth.

When something is full, there is not room for anymore.  When we are full of the Love of Jesus Christ and the Creator of the Universe, Father God, there will be no room for hate.

We will understand that we are all a work in progress and look at each other with acceptance and the Love the passes all understanding!

This is a lesson our entire nation and world needs right now.  It must start somewhere! May it start with each of us!

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Father, in Jesus name I ask you to fill each of us who call ourselves Christians with the agape, or God kind of Love.  That Love that shows compassion and forgiveness instead of hate and condemnation.  Forgive each of us our murderous thoughts or words by our hating.  Let us rest in your divine Love and let that divine Love flow through us to others.   Amen!!

I Love you with the Love of Jesus, MeMaw!