I love reading God’s Word and you should too, it’s your compass to get you through! In the morning, during the evening or maybe for a mid-day break, just pick up your Bible and read it every day.
What do you hate? I hate hate. There are so many people riding on the hate train, they hate this, they hate that and yes, they even hate other people! Aagh! Were there any haters in the Bible? What does God have to say about hate? Mm.
In the book of 1 John chapter 4 verse 20, it says,” If someone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. He can see his brother, but he hates him. So he cannot love God, whom he has never seen.” (ICB)
Ditto. Jesus came across some haters too…In the book of John chapter 15 verse 18 it reads, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” (ICB)
Do you know how many things the Lord hates? In the book of Proverbs chapter 6 verse 16-19 it says, “There are six things the Lord hates. There are seven things he cannot stand: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up evil plans, feet that are quick to do evil, a witness who tells lies and a man who causes trouble among brothers.” (ICB)
If you try to cover up your hate for someone in your heart, do you still hate that person? Let’s see what God has to say about that…In the book of Proverbs chapter 10 verse 18 it states, “Whoever hides his hate is a liar.
Whoever tells lies is a fool.” (ICB)
When you hate, you live in pitch black darkness and open a door to all kinds of hate and sinful behavior.
In the book of Mark chapter 7 verse 21-23 it says, “All these evil things begin inside a person, in the mind: evil thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, selfishness, doing bad things to other people, lying, doing sinful things, jealousy, saying bad things about people, pride, and foolish living. All these evil things come from within a person. These things make a person unclean.” (ICB)
“Do not do the things that people in darkness do. That brings nothing good. But do good things to show that the things done in darkness are wrong.” (Book of Ephesians chapter 5 verse 11, ICB)
“But whoever hates his brother is in darkness. He lives in darkness and does not know where he is going. The darkness has made him blind.” (Book of 1 John chapter 2 verse 11)
Then what is the remedy for hate?
In the book of I Corinthians chapter 13 verse 4-7 it reads, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not become angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always continues strong.” (ICB)
“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” (Book of John chapter 13 verse 34-35, ICB)
“Your love must be real. Hate what is evil. Hold on to what is good.” (Book of Romans chapter 12 verse 9, ICB)
“Later, Jesus talked to the people again. He said, “I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness. He will have the light that gives life.” (Book of John chapter 8 verse 12, ICB)
Jesus is the Rx…God is Love!
And God didn’t stop there…. More to come later. See you soon and in the meantime read the Bible for yourself.
Sir Blake Here.