¹⁴ If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. ¹⁵ Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

1 John 3:14-15

Dear God, the verse of the day for Bible Gateway was 1 John 3:16, talking about Jesus loving us and giving his life up for us, but this part about loving and hating on the part of humans and murder and eternal life really struck me this morning because of the hate I see in some people I know. In some politicians who are throwing out hate like it’s candy. Cursing others. Even mocking you. It’s unbelievable. It’s really unbelievable that I’m seeing this kind of rampant hate. It is just consuing them. What’s really interesting (in a sad way) is to watch it grow. It’s like a cancer. The hate is really growing in some hearts and completely taking over. I mean, for some, it’s been there all along, and they are just revealing more and more of it to the outside world. But wow.

So let’s turn this mirror back on me. How do I guard myself from this? How do I continue to find the narrow gate and walk this narrow path of love over hate? Is there anyone right now in my life towards whom I’m harboring “hate?” There are certainly some people I don’t like or about whom I think ill, but do I hate them? Is there a fine line? Is there a difference?

I do think there’s a difference. I think there are some people I shouldn’t trust and whose motives are suspect. I might even root for their plans to fail. But “hate.” Do I hate them? I don’t think I do.

Father, give me mercy where you want me to have mercy. Where I tend to be unmerciful. I want to walk through the narrow gate and then down the narrow path with you. I want to feel the mercy you give to me flow through me and into those around me. Live through me. Love through me. Let your kingdom come and your will be done in this world through my life and the lives of your people.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen