Hatred

Have you ever had someone out and out hate you?  How did that make you feel?  I don’t think anyone wants to be hated and not loved, especially by a good friend.  It is no fun to be hated by anyone, especially by someone, like I said, that claimed to be your good friend.  I typed something similar a while ago, but I think it is worth going over again.  

Please read what Proverbs 15:1-2 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.”                                                                                                                                                    

It seems like many people have forgotten how to talk to each other.  On the other hand, it seems that many people are only hearing what they conceive to be what is being said and not getting what is really being said.   The result is a misunderstanding that brings on anger and frustration.  Maybe that is one of the reason’s God’s word says to love your neighbor as yourself and, also to love your enemies and pray for them.  If you truly love people, you will try your best to treat them with respect and try your best not to disrespect them.  

Getting into a verbal confrontation with your neighbor or your friend could cause you to be hated by them and they may end up being your enemies instead of your friends.  I know that it seems that today people will hate you if you don’t agree with them on every issue.  By the way, whatever happened to agreeing to disagree and still love the person, that seems to be nonexistent today in many cases.  

Even as believers we are not perfect people, just forgiven.  Now think of this, if we have genuine love for one another that love will cover a multitude of sins.

Please read 1 Peter 4:8, “Above all, keep your love for one another constant, for ‘love covers a multitude of sins.’”   

True love speaks truth and the truth will set one free.  True love does no wrong to its neighbor.  Now please read this, Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs\

up strife but love covers up all transgressions.”  True love remembers no wrongs.

Pleased read James 5:19-20, “My brothers and sisters, if any among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, let him know that the one who turns a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

How does true love accomplish this? It is because true love forgives.  Think of what our Savior did for us; He laid down His life, bearing the pain and the shame and gave his life, no one took it from Him, He willingly died by the terrible death of crucifixion so that by His shed blood our sins could be covered, cleansed and washed away and we could find forgiveness, praise His holy name!!  

Once our sins have been forgiven, He forgets all of them.  Please read Isaiah 43:25, “I, I am the One who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and will not remember your sins.”

True love from God is truly a blessing and I will praise Him.  Now think of this, hatred causes problems and promotes conflict, love dismantles hatred and breeds unity and oneness, not division and separation.  If you claim to be a believer, remember this the next time someone has a conflict with you, and this goes for me also, let’s respond with love and defuse the situation with a gentle answer and a loving response.

I hope this has been a help and an encouragement and a blessing to you and may the good Lord bless you and yours with His perfect peace, love and joy and health and happiness!!  Today don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is worthy.