Notes of Faith March 27, 2023

Loving Those Who Hate

Sometimes it’s really hard to love people, particularly when You ask me to love those who hate You and do evil things. Please show me. How can I hate evil and still love the haters?

Isn’t that what Paul did when he was in prison? In the worst of circumstances, he hated evil but continued to love. And You did the same, Jesus. When You were beaten, mocked, and crucified, You asked God to forgive Your enemies because they didn’t know what they were doing. That is pure love.

Love requires that you pray for those most in need of salvation.

Jesus, You are always in my heart, guiding me and leading me to be more like You. And for that reason, I have to pray for those who hate You and do evil things. I don’t love what they do, Lord — but I want them to know You, so I pray for them. I love them enough to ask that You will save them. Please, Lord Jesus, come into their hearts. Open their eyes to see You. They need You so much.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

— Matthew 5:43–44

When Jesus was on the cross, He prayed for His enemies and asked God to forgive them. Can you love someone who hates the Lord or who willingly inflicts suffering? Love doesn’t mean that you accept acts of hatred and evil, but love requires that you pray for those most in need of salvation. Remember them when you pray.

Excerpted from 100 Days of Prayer, copyright Zondervan.

It is pretty easy to love those who love us. But those who are critical, mean, or violent toward us are hard to love. We most likely will not love them without the power of the Holy Spirit within us. Pray for your own heart to be like Jesus. He created even those that hate in His image, but free will took them down a dark path. Let us desire God’s love for all people and try and try again to love those who so desperately need the love of God.

Pastor Dale