Love, In a World of Hate

"Learning how to love your neighbor requires a willingness to draw on the strength of Jesus Christ as you die to self and live for Him. Living in this manner allows you to practice biblical love for others in spite of adverse circumstances or your feelings to the contrary."  - John C. Broger

It's no big secret that "hate" has become more glaringly evident in recent years. It appears to ebb and flow throughout history, but it never truly disappears. The dictionary defines hate, as: to dislike intensely or passionately. 

We've been told that hate is a strong word; that we shouldn't toss it around haphazardly. We use it to describe our disdain for certain things, for example: inconveniences, taking medication, foods, clothing, etc. Hate may even be described as the main driver of war. 

But it is most destructive and hurtful when we use it against one another. How about you? Do you have an issue with hate? Do you find it difficult to engage in a spirit of goodwill toward others?

If we are honest we will admit that it can sometimes be easier to feel hateful toward others than to show kindness. Somehow we must deal with our hatred and replace hostility with love, or our world will crumble like a house of cards.

Christianity does not follow the path of hate. It is built on love. And at its heart, is the affirmation that God loves us. He requires his children to love him supremely and to love their neighbors as themselves. 

Jesus took the teachings of Moses and the prophets and condensed them into two great commandments (Matthew 22:35-40). Through further refinement of the total teachings of the Old Testament, we are presented with three great truths.

Before all else, we are obligated to love God supremely and faithfully. Next, we are obligated to love ourselves appropriately so that we might have a proper measure by which to love others. Lastly, we are obligated to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

The command to practice love in a world of hate in quite obvious. We should love God, ourselves, and others. We must love others even though they are displeasing. We must like those whom we do not particularly care for. But how can any of this work?

The Scriptures tell us that God not only requires that we love, but that he also provides us with the ability and the frame of mind to love. After all, God is love (1 John 4:8). He has manifested his love toward unloving people in the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ (1 John 4:9-10).

And because God loves you an I (1 John 4:10), we are both obligated and enabled to love each other. The Holy Spirit, who came to us the moment we were converted, took up residence in our hearts (Galatians 4:6-7), and poured out within our hearts the love of God (Romans 5:5).

Thus, God, who is described as love, "has given us of his Spirit" (1 John 4:13). In describing the function of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers, Paul declared that the Holy Spirit has entered our hearts to produce the fruit of love (Galatians 5:22).

You might be wondering how you'd ever find the strength to make this happen. God doesn't expect us to love in human strength alone. For this reason he has put his Holy Spirit within us to make it possible for us to love God supremely, ourselves accordingly, and each other as we love ourselves.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:32; Proverbs 10:12; 1 Corinthians 16:14; Colossians 3:14; Romans 5:8;  

Prayer: Dear Lord, may Your love be manifested in me; and may Your love also be distributed by grace through faith to everyone I meet, amen.

May the Lord bless,

Shawna