Love Versus Hate

Sunday's Devotion (4-17-05)

"He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes." 1 John 2:10-11 (KJV)

Love versus hate is a spiritual battle. It's a spiritual battle, and we need to choose the winning team. The winning team is love. If you hate someone, then you are blinded by that hate, and you walk in darkness. Some of you say, "But how can I love a person, who did such a horrible thing to me?" Those are the words of a blind man. The love of God, is to love all... even those who hate you. Hate will make you sin. It'll make you want revenge, it'll make you want to hurt, kill, steal, lie, and the list keeps going. If you do all these things, then you sin against God. If you die with hate in your hearts, then you could end up in a place you will hate for eternity. Is it worth it? The question: "Is it worth it?" Is the question that got to me. When I first got together with my wife, I was really bitter at my ex. My now wife explained that you can't enter God's Kingdom with hatred. She asked, "Is it worth it? If you hate her, then she wins." She couldn't have been more right. These days it takes a lot for me to even be tempted with hate. But when I am tempted with it, I just pray. That's all there is to do. Pray and forgive.

Now, let's talk about the winning team. Love is a wonderful thing. Love makes you do good things. I've said this before, but it's worth saying over and over, "Love is not just a word. It's an action." You're not doing to get away with beating someone up while you say, "I love you," to them. It doesn't work that way. God won't be fooled. God knows true love, and that true love comes from the heart. If you have an enemy that you want to love, then show love. Be nice to that person, go out of your way for them, etc. Saying, "I love you," just isn't all that needs to be done. Just saying it is like approaching a starving man while you're eating a cheese burger, and you say, "I love you!" But you give him no food or money. It's not love to let someone starve. It's not love to hurt people. It's not love to make fun of people. Love is doing good unto others! If we tried it, we'd get a lot further than where we are. You won't go too far wandering around in the dark.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this message and for all things. Please forgive us of all our sins, and we forgive all those who've wronged us. Please help us to love, and not to hate anyone. Help us to walk only in the light. In Jesus name. A-men!

God bless!

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