Have you ever been hated?
Have you ever hated anyone?
I was told once in a bible study I was leading that hate is a very harsh word, and as Christians how could we ever hate anyone… Well I hated someone. They had wronged me and my family, and they did things that I never thought someone who loved me could do. I guess to make matters worse, this person that I hated was a member of my family, it was a sister… She had wronged all of my family. And I hated her for what she did to us. I love her today don’t get me wrong, but she hurt us badly and that made me feel very strongly… But I love her because she is my family. Get it. It is the old statement that I do not like, “love the sinner, hate the sin.” You see it is impossible to love the sinner and hate the sin, because we are one and the same, we are the sin that we commit and the sin that we commit effects every other member of the body of Christ. It is not possible to separate the sin from the sinner, except for God. Hate is a strong word, and that is why Jesus used it here…
If the world hates you, beware because they hated me before you. They will hate you because you are like me, and you love like me and act like me. We are to be known for our love, not for our hate… We are to help others the way Jesus did through the comforting and moving of the Holy Spirit, instead of pointing out the sins we see others committing. Sins are what keep us from God, what create idols in our lives, and a sin for me may not be a sin for you… So who are we to judge. We are to love and help others know God. Then God will change them through the giving of the comforter, the advocate, the Holy Spirit…
Love so much that the world hates you. Love them like Jesus…
aSacredRebel 