Love, Don't Hate

by Katie Harding on February 20, 2023

Last week we celebrated Valentine’s Day, which is often recognized as the day of love. However, on many days, instead of love, we are hearing more and more about hate crimes in our country.  This should totally break our hearts as followers of Jesus because if there’s one thing Jesus taught us, it was not to hate. He not only spoke about it, but He demonstrated it throughout His ministry. Not to hate those who live on the margins of society or live in poverty. Not to hate those who suffer hardships or come from a different country. Not to hate those who think differently, act differently, or believe differently than we do. 

“...because if there’s one thing Jesus taught us, it was not to hate.”

What Jesus knew, that we often don’t realize, is that hate destroys us from the inside out. It robs us of our peace. This is why Jesus said we need to forgive others, not just one or two times, but seventy times seven times, because forgiving isn’t for the sake of others, but for the sake of self. Unforgiveness can become fertile ground where hatred can take root. So, whenever I experience pain in a relationship or situation, I pray the prayer I adapted from Corrie Ten Boom years ago, “Father, forgive them through me until I can forgive them as well.” It’s my way of not letting hatred implant itself into my soul. 

Then I finish with, “And love them through me until I can love them as well,” because Jesus calls us not to hate, but to love. In fact, He commanded it. In addition to loving God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength, Jesus said that loving our neighbors as ourselves is the second most important thing we can do. And He showed us that loving others was as much about meeting physical needs as it was teaching spiritual truths. Then He quantified it. He said to love others as much as He loves us — despite our own sinfulness. Love others that much. 

“Jesus said loving our neighbors as ourselves is the second most important thing we can do.”

Loving others, ALL others, and not hating them is what will indicate to the world that we are Jesus’ disciples — His students, continually learning from Him how to live like Him. So go in the grace of God and do likewise. Love one another.