Which is easier for you? To look around and see the good in the world or the evil? To love or to hate? To grant forgiveness and mercy or hold onto bitterness? Is the proverbial glass half full or empty? 

I started thinking about my enemies today when I read this verse from Luke. 

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Luke 6:35 (NIV)

As far as I know, I don’t have any enemies. At least no one I would consider as such, but it struck me that I was once God’s enemy. 

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Romans 5:10 (NIV)

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

Colossians 1:21 (NIV)

It’s not that I didn’t know this before. I’ve read the Bible, and I know what it says, but I got to thinking about enemies and how I was once an enemy of God. Because we’re told to love our enemies, and God loved me despite being his enemy. Although God loved me while I was his enemy, there are still things God hates. 

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NIV)

We’re supposed to hate the things that God hates and love the things he loves. How can we do that? There’s so much violence in the world. Every day I read about some new atrocity in Ukraine, and I marvel at the hate towards those committing it. It’s much easier to hate these people than to love them, isn’t it? How can we separate love and hate? 

Some say, “Hate the sin and love the sinner,” but what does that look like? 

I suppose the key is remembering who we once were before we were saved. I lived a destructive life where it seemed like everything I touched eventually fell apart. No matter how hard I tried to love, I could never love well enough. I always got in the way of my loving. This is what I think brought me to the Lord. I never accepted the blame for my life until I met Jesus for the first time. I didn’t see how the sin of pride was destroying everything in my life until God showed it to me. 

Before I knew the Lord, I was full of pride. Pride that God hates (haughty eyes). Yet, Jesus still loved me enough to die for me. To die for that sin of pride that was destroying my life. He hated the pride but loved me. 

This is what I think it means to hate the things God hates. We hate sin because it destroys lives, storms buildings, and kills people. It rapes women and children without mercy. It wages a carnal war that we cannot fight with carnality. With hate. 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

On the other hand, we love the person it’s destroying because it was once destroying us. Without Christ, we were that person we might be enticed to hate, and it’s only with his grace and mercy, that we can love others as ourselves. If you’re finding it hard to love someone today, turn to the Lord and ask him for his help because he wants to help you. 

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, be free from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away. 

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation today:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart, and I receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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