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Wednesday,
February 27, 2008
Hate To Love
1 John 3:11-13 For this is the message
that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (12) Not
as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore
slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
(13) Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. (KJV)
What did Abel do wrong to deserve the
hate which led to his death? The answer is nothing; however he did choose
to hold God to be true which brought about the persecution. So what are you
doing wrong or think you are doing wrong because you have brought the wrath
of man to the surface and manifested what is really going on in the heart?
Don’t stand in awe or wonder and marvel if the world and its ways hate the
message you live and bring forth, rather continue in the love of God even
though the majority of what we are surrounded with chooses to hate. Even
back to the beginning of mankind we see the strife and contention
manifested in the form of hatred, so if you encounter these things on the
path of life you are walking don’t be ashamed or think it strange, rather
rejoice because you are partakers of the same sufferings that others who
have chosen this same path have encountered.
John 15:17-21 These things I command you,
that ye love one another. (18) If the world hate you, ye know that it hated
me before it hated you. (19) If ye were of the world, the world would love
his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of
the world, therefore the world hateth you. (20) Remember the word that I
said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have
persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying,
they will keep yours also. (21) But all these things will they do unto you
for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. (KJV)
We see the warnings again of what will
happen to those that choose to be followers of our Lord and the opposition
they will encounter. As you see though, we should not take these things
personal as it is not us they hate but the One we represent, that is who
they truly hate and despise. Whatever visions you had of Christianity or
however our Lord has been portrayed by mankind are most likely based on
illusions of pleasing man, people pleasers if you would, which we are
surrounded with and why so many are weak. They persecuted our Lord they
will do the same to you. So get used to it and be prepared, don’t take it
personal because all they are doing is taking their frustrations out on the
messenger. We are like postmen who must deliver the mail despite the fact
that there are some nasty dogs out there that bark and bite. Our
responsibility is to deliver the message, a message of hope and love to a
dying world even though they may interpret it as hate.
John 17:13-16 And now come I to thee; and
these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in
themselves. (14) I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them,
because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (15) I
pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil. (16) They are not of the world, even as
I am not of the world. (KJV)
Our Lord’s prayer for His people shortly
before His crucifixion was for their edification and comfort despite the
hatred they would encounter after His departure. The more one grows in the
knowledge of our Lord and the things of His realm the more it will
contradict those of this realm, the world as it is referred to and its
fallen ways. The more you let the truth set you free the more it will
convict those that wish to establish their own righteousness which is based
on works and not on grace. The Lord was in this world but not of it and did
not subject Himself or His belief in its system and way of thinking. We too
are confronted daily with the same temptations and man’s way of thinking
that if we would only bend a bit here and compromise a bit there then we
could fit in with the world and not have to suffer the hatred and
persecution. But like Paul said, if we seek to please man then we cannot be
the servants of Christ.
John 7:1-7 After these things Jesus
walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought
to kill him. (2) Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. (3) His
brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that
thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. (4) For there is no
man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known
openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. (5) For neither
did his brethren believe in him. (6) Then Jesus said unto them, My time is
not yet come: but your time is alway ready. (7) The world cannot hate you;
but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
(KJV)
We see our Lord was not always a crowd
favorite and well received. It got to the point where He had to be watchful
where He went because many didn’t take His message as one of love, but
rather chose to hate. Isn’t it just like mankind illustrated in verse 4,
who thinks they need to go and show themselves to the world and demonstrate
the things of God to a larger audience in order to be a success? But the
Lord knew His calling and who He was seeking to please. And the more He
chose to love the less He was loved, rather hated. And just like our Lord,
just because those that have been close to you don’t believe, even your own
brothers or sisters, it doesn’t mean you are a failure or have done
anything wrong.
John 7:5 [Neither did his brethren
believe in him.] They did not receive him as the promised Messiah; but,
having seen so many of his miracles, they could not but consider him as an
eminent prophet. They supposed that, if he were the Messiah, he would wish
to manifest himself as such to the world; and, because he did not do so,
they did not believe that he was the salvation of Israel. (from Adam Clarke
Commentary)
Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are ye, when men
shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and
shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's
sake. (23) Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your
reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto
the prophets. (KJV)
Don’t always think right away that you
have done something wrong or that you are offending people in a negative
way just because you choose to live the truth and be a true believer of our
Lord, not just in word but in deed as well. Although our Lord brought a
message of love to a fallen mankind, many choose to hate rather than
reciprocate His love in return; and if you experience these situations in
your own walk don’t think it strange, rather rejoice in that you are
partakers of these same sufferings which are an evident sign that you are
on the right path and in good standing with our Father. God bless.
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