What is hate? The dictionary tells us that it is an intense or passionate dislike of someone. It means you despise them, you look down on them, you are repulsed by them. Is that really what you want to feel? I know I don't.
Hate is the exact opposite of love. Love is a deep affection for someone. It's easy to have good feelings towards someone, but true love is not based on feelings. In I Corinthians 13:4-8, we're told that love is patient and kind. Love doesn't behave badly, it is not provoked, it thinks no evil. Love never fails. When we can do these things...regardless of our feelings or someone's actions...that is true love. Jesus tells us to love each other.
We don't get to pick and choose who we love. Jesus wants us to love everyone - no matter their skin color, no matter their way of life...love them the way they are. It's not our place to judge them. Jesus taught us to love one another and to treat others as we want to be treated. Our world needs this. “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8.
Do we like the way others act or treat us? No, not always. It's okay not to like their actions, but we should do all we can to show them love. Get rid of the bitterness, anger, hate, and bad behavior. We're told in Ephesians 4:31-32 to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven us. We don't have to agree on everything to be kind to each other. It's time to let the past be the past. We repeat what we don't repair.
In the end nothing we do or say in this lifetime will matter as much as the way we have loved one another. And the greatest way to show people Jesus is by loving them. Be kind because EVERYONE matters. We are all God's children.
Let kindness begin with me.
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
John 15:12
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