Devotionals

Acceptable Hatred

by Cheryl Weber
04/29/16
Not For Sale

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

I have hated only one person in my life and those feelings frightened me. The Biblical warning that hatred is as bad as murder was clear to me but I could not rid myself of the emotions. It took a personal crisis to change my attitude.

The very essence of God’s character is love and he created us to gain our greatest life and fulfillment from unconditionally loving relationships with him and with others. When we hate, we are like the world in its selfish pride and rebellion. Hatred leads to brokenness and death--of reputations, of relationships, of hearts and ultimately, physical life. John uses the Genesis 4 account of Cain and Abel to illustrate his point. God approved of Abel’s sacrifices and rejected those of his brother Cain. Cain’s jealousy turned to bitter hatred, then outright murder.

The only acceptable hatred in God’s kingdom is the hatred of sin. 1 John 3:16 says, “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (NLT) Jesus valued us so deeply that he took our sins on himself and died on a cross. His extreme act of love showed the extreme ugliness of sin. His death shattered its power and made eternal life available. When we yield our lives to Christ, we are enabled to love even the unlovely and we will be “like him [Jesus] in this world.” (1 John 4:17) Hungry souls will recognize this source of life and be drawn to the Savior.

PRAYER: Lord, may your love transform our hearts so that we will love as you loved and be a light shining in the darkness of a lost and dying world.