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12-06-2007, 02:18 PM
MAY GOD BLESS YOU THIS DAY … TO LOVE BEYOND HATE!
Last week's Note was about hatred, especially its characteristic
of aversion - that unreasoning desire to avoid and be separated
from the object of hatred. One purpose of that Note was to
issue a warning within the Body of Christ: It is impossible to
love God and also be in a state of hatred. (1 John 4:20-21)
And it goes much further. Anyone who claims to be in the
light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. (1 John 2:9)
We simply cannot be people of hate.
This stirred a lot of response. Some found the message
timely and needed. Others noted the difference between
anger and hatred. Many told of heartache, rejection and
betrayal as they shared stories where hatred had entered
their lives. Some were the objects of hatred, but often they
were the ones doing the hating and struggled between their
own deeply held emotions and the command of Christ to love
one another. Each time, in differing ways, they would ask,
How can I love someone I hate?
That is a legitimate question, one seldom addressed in church.
We'd like to think ‘hating' could never occur in our holy midst,
so we ignore it altogether or attempt to re-label the "person
with the problem" as not being very spiritual or worse, not
saved. And yet, by acknowledging, discussing and working
through such things, we can come to a better understanding
of God's incredible mercy, kindness, and power.
How can I love someone I hate? This is too important for
us to overlook. Hatred ignored is hatred strengthened.
Spiritual lives are at stake here...for those who look to us
to be examples of Christ and for us as well. Many sincerely
struggle with the inner conflict hatred and love create,
causing much confusion, agony, and doubt. They understand
intimately what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, For
what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not
want to do - this I keep on doing. (Romans 7:19) Ah, but
there is a solution, an answer to this question.
I once drove to the Florida coast for some much needed rest.
Getting to my peaceful destination required crossing a bridge
that spanned a broad river, but on arriving I saw that the
bridge had been destroyed by the swift moving current.
At first I was at a loss of what to do, but then realized that
a way had been provided across the turbulent water...an
old river ferry brought down just for this purpose. The boat
was worn and appeared to have been used often over the
years, but it was clearly steady enough.
I looked at the choppy water before me and thought over my
choices. I could turn around and never reach my peaceful
destination. I could travel many miles upriver in the hope of
finding my own way across. I could just sit there and do
nothing except become more upset over my situation and how
unfair it all was. Or I could trust in the boat and its captain,
giving all control over to him to get me to the other side.
I chose the ferry, of course. Never before having been on
such a thing seemed exciting. It was also very rewarding.
Turned out the captain knew exactly what he was doing and
very ably, with none of my assistance (or interference),
brought me to a place where I did in fact find the peace I
was seeking. And therein lies the answer to, How can I
love someone I hate?
Hatred, like that river, runs deep. It destroys relationships
that bridge God's people, causing distance and separation.
It prevents us from reaching that place where we share in
His peace. And it always...did you get that?... always puts
us in a place where we can do very little. But there is a way
across those turbulent waters. There is a way to love someone
we hate, and it is this. Let God take control of your journey
by allowing Him to change your heart so that He can carry
you across your hatred.
Like getting on that ferry, dealing with hatred involves making
a choice. Sometimes the choice can be a difficult one,
especially when we believe we are justified and cling to our
hatred with great fervor. But the problem is in our focus.
Our eyes stare at the object of our hatred, and we fail to look
to Christ.
The journey across hatred may not be easy. The waters may
still be rough and difficult. But we can make it if we allow
God to change our hearts and bring us to a place of peace.
It all comes down to a choice. We can give up control to God
and follow Him, or we can steer our own course and never
find our way. It's really a different question that requires an
answer. Is it Him or ourselves that we love?
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Take care and be God's,
Chuck
Last week's Note was about hatred, especially its characteristic
of aversion - that unreasoning desire to avoid and be separated
from the object of hatred. One purpose of that Note was to
issue a warning within the Body of Christ: It is impossible to
love God and also be in a state of hatred. (1 John 4:20-21)
And it goes much further. Anyone who claims to be in the
light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. (1 John 2:9)
We simply cannot be people of hate.
This stirred a lot of response. Some found the message
timely and needed. Others noted the difference between
anger and hatred. Many told of heartache, rejection and
betrayal as they shared stories where hatred had entered
their lives. Some were the objects of hatred, but often they
were the ones doing the hating and struggled between their
own deeply held emotions and the command of Christ to love
one another. Each time, in differing ways, they would ask,
How can I love someone I hate?
That is a legitimate question, one seldom addressed in church.
We'd like to think ‘hating' could never occur in our holy midst,
so we ignore it altogether or attempt to re-label the "person
with the problem" as not being very spiritual or worse, not
saved. And yet, by acknowledging, discussing and working
through such things, we can come to a better understanding
of God's incredible mercy, kindness, and power.
How can I love someone I hate? This is too important for
us to overlook. Hatred ignored is hatred strengthened.
Spiritual lives are at stake here...for those who look to us
to be examples of Christ and for us as well. Many sincerely
struggle with the inner conflict hatred and love create,
causing much confusion, agony, and doubt. They understand
intimately what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, For
what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not
want to do - this I keep on doing. (Romans 7:19) Ah, but
there is a solution, an answer to this question.
I once drove to the Florida coast for some much needed rest.
Getting to my peaceful destination required crossing a bridge
that spanned a broad river, but on arriving I saw that the
bridge had been destroyed by the swift moving current.
At first I was at a loss of what to do, but then realized that
a way had been provided across the turbulent water...an
old river ferry brought down just for this purpose. The boat
was worn and appeared to have been used often over the
years, but it was clearly steady enough.
I looked at the choppy water before me and thought over my
choices. I could turn around and never reach my peaceful
destination. I could travel many miles upriver in the hope of
finding my own way across. I could just sit there and do
nothing except become more upset over my situation and how
unfair it all was. Or I could trust in the boat and its captain,
giving all control over to him to get me to the other side.
I chose the ferry, of course. Never before having been on
such a thing seemed exciting. It was also very rewarding.
Turned out the captain knew exactly what he was doing and
very ably, with none of my assistance (or interference),
brought me to a place where I did in fact find the peace I
was seeking. And therein lies the answer to, How can I
love someone I hate?
Hatred, like that river, runs deep. It destroys relationships
that bridge God's people, causing distance and separation.
It prevents us from reaching that place where we share in
His peace. And it always...did you get that?... always puts
us in a place where we can do very little. But there is a way
across those turbulent waters. There is a way to love someone
we hate, and it is this. Let God take control of your journey
by allowing Him to change your heart so that He can carry
you across your hatred.
Like getting on that ferry, dealing with hatred involves making
a choice. Sometimes the choice can be a difficult one,
especially when we believe we are justified and cling to our
hatred with great fervor. But the problem is in our focus.
Our eyes stare at the object of our hatred, and we fail to look
to Christ.
The journey across hatred may not be easy. The waters may
still be rough and difficult. But we can make it if we allow
God to change our hearts and bring us to a place of peace.
It all comes down to a choice. We can give up control to God
and follow Him, or we can steer our own course and never
find our way. It's really a different question that requires an
answer. Is it Him or ourselves that we love?
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Take care and be God's,
Chuck