LOVE AND HATE

“In spite of everything, I still believe people are really good at heart.”

—Anne Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank

Despite of all the abuse I have endured, all the horrible things I have seen and heard, despite the state of our world, I still want to believe that underneath all the sin people are still good at heart. 

When people give into the temptations of sin they can do horrible things and really hurt those around them. I am sure we have all been hurt by someone really close to us and we have inevitably hurt someone we love. It is difficult to deal with when someone we love hurts us; and when we realise that we have hurt someone we love, we don't feel too great either. 

The bible gives us advice for dealing with those who hurt us and those we consider our enemies.

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one whostrikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Luke 6:27 -38

We should not hate those who hate us, or whom we may call enemies, instead we should show them love. This is not being a coward; in fact showing them love will be of a greater influence than showing hatred towards them. It's easy to love those who love you, but anyone can do that. When we know Jesus, He gives us the love to love those who don't love us. We should love without expecting love back.