Encouragement grounded in Scripture
Rooted in truth. Anchored in Christ.
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We Can’t “Hate,” and Love
If someone says “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar, for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we can’t see? 1 John 4:20
Ouch. It’s only Day 3 of this love journey, and God has just punched me in the gut. But wait…you are a pastor? I know. But I still struggle with people. But hate? Yes, I’ll get to that word.
Growing up I learned there were several words you just did NOT say. Anything using God’s name if you were not specifically praising Him. Shut-up. Certain potty words. Whatever (mainly me, as a teen, to my mom). And hate. Why hate? Hate was considered too strong a word to use. We were told we “may not like their ways, but we don’t HATE.”
Hate in this instance meant contempt. It meant a sheer dislike. A desire to see someone suffer. And growing up this was considered something of bad character.
God doesn’t like it either. Especially among His believers. Especially in His churches.
Why is this such a big deal to Him?
First, the Greek translation of hate is “miso,”which means to loathe, detest, abominate. If you look at the definitions of these words they all imply intensity of emotion. Utter disgust for someone. It is usually accompanied by malice, and a desire to see someone pay.
You ever felt that? Don’t lie. I’m not going to. I have. When someone hurts me, I want them to feel the hurt I have. If they prosper, it makes me angry. I wonder why in the world they would be blessed, and I want the whole world to know their true character.
But these things are not characteristic of God. God detests evil, yes. And He will take care of evil people, but His overall nature is loving.
So we can’t hate someone, and love God at the same time. We can’t hate someone, and display His character. We can’t curse someone else, and praise Him with the same lips.
If we find ourselves in this state of emotion, we must use our lips for something good-prayer.
Pray for God to excise our hearts of resentment and anger. Pray we have hearts that see those who have hurt us in the way He sees them. Pray we wish them well, and not ill.
We don’t have to like everyone we meet. Everyone we are around. Everyone who has hurt us. But we do have to have hearts that are free from hatred in order to display the love of God to others. We are called to live in harmony. With all his children. With the people we see around us.
This is what He desires.
He would love nothing more than this from His children.
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The Original “Ride or Die”
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13
Ride or die.
It’s a term actually originated in the 1950’s by bikers referring to the fact that if they couldn’t ride, they would rather die. It is now being used to refer to relationships-those that are romantic in nature, friendly, and some even toxic (think “Bonnie and Clyde” here).
When we use the phrase, what are we referring to? What are the qualities that make someone a “ride or die?” It is usually someone who is fiercely loyal. Someone who will face problems with you head-on, alongside you. Someone who will “ride” with you, even when the ride becomes bumpy, filled with potholes, and may even be filled with danger. They will sacrifice themselves for you.
Do you know anyone like this? A partner? A friend?
I do.
His name is Jesus.
The OG “ride or die.”
Let’s fact check this one. Does Jesus fit our modern description?
Loyal? Check. He was about his Father’s business, no one else’s (Luke 2:49).
Encourager? Check. Jesus did not desire that those close to him would remain the way they were. Trapped by their past, or doubting their gifts. He took some of those rejected by society and made them his disciples-teaching them how to lead others after he was gone.
Honest? Check. Jesus did not dodge the truth. He didn’t sugar coat to make his disciples feel better. He spoke the truth in love. Even when it wasn’t popular.
Supportive at all times? Check. Jesus provided a way back to him when others went astray, offering mercy and forgiveness to those who were truly repentant (See Luke 22:54-62 and John 21:15-17)
Willing to sacrifice? Check. Jesus would rather die than allow us to continue in our own path of destruction. He sacrificed himself, not just for a few, but for the entire gang of us.
I would say that makes him the original “ride or die.” The truest definition of the term. The example of sacrifice and laying down one’s life for those we love.
There is no greater love than that one.
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He Does It All with Love
And do everything with love. 1 Corinthians 16:14
If you have been around a long time, there is a chance you have heard of Mother Teresa, the Catholic nun who dedicated her life to the poor and desolate in the slums of Calcutta. In her lifetime she set up orphanages, she fed the homeless, she organized countless soup kitchens, and she educated the poor. One of her most famous quotes is one that closely mirrors the verse at the beginning of this post: “Do small things with great love.”
Where did this example of love come from? How do we learn to live out a love like this in our daily lives?
Our example is God.
Some of us may not have learned about a loving God growing up. We may have learned that God was essentially angry. Sitting on a throne in heaven, waiting to smite us if we did anything wrong. We may have feared lightening shooting down from heaven for any small transgression against Him, or any other authority figure.
While God is in fact a jealous God, and He does get angry…He is not a God who is all-consumed with rage, and an abusive nature; at the ready to hand out punishment any time we slip and fall.
God does discipline. Yes.
God does course correct. Yes.
God does sometimes make us stand face to face with our sin, as if we are looking at ourselves in a mirror. Yes, He does.
God does allow us to suffer when we take the wrong path over and over again.
But He does everything with love.
Because He disciplines, course corrects, and reveals our need for change because His desire is to show us grace. To move us to right position with Him, and in His kingdom. Not to smite us. He wants so much better for us. His is the kind of love that gently nudges us to come to Him in still, small voices, and also shows His love in the biggest way possible-by sending the One who took the fall for all we would do. Just so we would have a path to forgiveness when we are poor, destitute, and hungry for love.
He does everything He can in big and small ways to show His love for us. In the hopes we accept, and then show that love in everything we do for others.
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That One Verse
It very well could be one of the first verses you memorized. Perhaps it is the verse you have heard recited the most often in church services. It is certainly probably one of the most widely quoted, even written in paint under the eyes of football players. You are likely saying it to yourself at this very moment.
He (God) gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16. NLT
It makes complete sense to start this journey of love with this verse. Why?
From the beginning God displayed himself as a loving God. He fashioned creation with the work of His hands, and he didn’t make the world evil. He made the world “good,” until we messed up. And it has always been His desire to make this right. God doesn’t desire that we be anything but “good,” as He originally intended. Even throughout the Old Testament displays of His love and faithfulness abound, despite the continued rejection of God for false idols and things of the world.
God’s sacrifice of His own son was completed out of profound love for His people, and a desire to place us into right position with Him again. God loves us too much to let us die to our sins. To watch us perish, and He offered a sacrifice of His One and Only so we could all be provided with the acceptance of this position.
I am not sure I have known a greater love than that. One that would pour out everything. Give everything. Sacrifice everything so someone else could be let off the hook. So someone else could walk free.
But that is exactly what He did for us.
And we get to show our love to Him. How? While the verse suggests a “belief” this is only a start. Those that came before believed and still walked in utter darkness. God desires that we follow the ways of His Son. That we not only simply believe in His sacrifice of love, but that we grow to be like Him, and that we show His love to others, as well. So that others can come to know, believe in this love, and accept this love, too.
Today begins the God is Love Bible Reading plan for February. If you want to join me, you only need the printable linked below, and a Bible or Bible app.
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Praying for Others
I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. When will you comfort me? Psalm 119: 82,82, NLT
I have been breaking Psalm 119 apart as I read through it, and these were the two verses in the particular section I read that got to me the most-prayer. I started to think about prayer. Especially the part of this process that can be heartbreaking. Painful. Wear you out.
You pray and you don’t see change. You pray and you don’t see evidence that God is moving. You pray and people continue in their ways. It makes you just want to stop. And that is what I had been thinking about all morning…why had He allowed me to pray for others for so long, placed people on my heart over and over, only to change nothing.
And then He gave me an email. An email I subscribe to with the following subject: “Intercessory Prayer.” The Greek translation for intercession is “to pray or intercede for, or petition on behalf of.” As God’s children, those who have accepted His grace, well…He has given us this authority to do this for others. For those who need this grace, too. We become the pathway for others to see Christ.
But this is what often happens with me.
I forget who truly holds the power. I pray and think this powerful connection to intercede for someone means “I” am the one who is mighty to save. Then I become discouraged when the saving doesn’t happen. When the change doesn’t occur the way I want it to.
Here’s the deal:
Yes, we do have an immense power given to us through the Holy Spirit. We have a connection to the Father through Jesus, and when someone we care for needs grace, we can pray and activate God’s power. But we are not responsible for all that occurs after that.
We pray. Then God nudges. He speaks. He sends His Word. They can either answer, or reject Him. That’s not on us. That’s between them and God.
What do we do? We? We just pray. Then we let God handle the rest.
About Me
I am January! Wife, mother, meemaw, pastor, and mental health provider who makes it through the day with my coffee, my journal, and my God. A simple human, navigating life through the messy and sometimes chaotic. All focused on Him.
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