hate (v.)

Yesterday during worship at New Life I found myself looking around the room, just sort of watching people. I love doing that, maybe even to the point where it's a little weird. But I love watching people worship. It breaks my heart in an incredible way and encourages me more than almost anything else. But this time, God brought a quote to my mind that I had read a few days earlier:

"How do we view those who do not show love for us? Do we see them as persons for whom Christ died or as persons who make our lives difficult?" - Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness

Recently I've been noticing more and more people saying things like, "I hate so-and-so." I know I'm guilty of it, and it's really starting to bother me. Hate is such a terrible word, and I really think that it's too strong a word to get thrown around the way it does. It's sad how easy it is for us to say that we hate somebody when we are specifically called to do just the opposite [Matt. 5:43-48].

Obviously, we're not going to get along with everybody. If you do get along with everybody, chances are you're not being real with yourself or anybody else. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that we have to like everyone in the whole world. But we are called to something much bigger--to love everyone in the whole world.

So back to the quote: how do we view those who don't show love for us? Or who annoy us? Or are downright mean to us? The world looks down on them and thinks poorly of them. But as Christ-followers, we are called to see them as Jesus does: as lost souls who He was willing to sacrifice His life for. It's pretty sobering to realize that each and every person someone claims to hate, God loves more than anyone could comprehend.

So I challenge you with this: whoever came to your mind as you read this, just remember that Jesus died for them too. We're all just as much in need of grace as they are.