Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16
"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007
 

THE HELL OF HATRED

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This entry was posted on 04-02-2008 and is filed under uncategorized.

We are discussing the works of the flesh as they are described in Galatians 5:20. Today we come to "hatred." The word jumps off the page and burns a hole in us. Hatred is so unChristian, so unChrist-like. Yet, Paul has to warn Christians about this wicked sin. The late Harry Emerson Fosdick said, "Hatred is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat." How many houses, churches, and relationships have been burned to the ground by hatred?

Hatred makes us lower than those we hate. The Bible has a lot to say about hate, especially in 1 John. Remember that John was once called a "son of thunder." He wanted Christ to rain down fire on a village that had refused them hospitality. But now he is older, sadder, and wiser. Hear him today.

1. If you hate you are in a state of darkness. "He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now" (2:9).

2. If you hate you are blind (ever heard the expression "blind with hate"?). "But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes" (2:11).

3. If you hate you are a murderer. "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding him" (3:15).

4. If you hate you are a liar. "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" (4:20).

William Law said, "If I hate or despise one man in the world, I hate something which God cannot hate, and despise that which He loves."

Prayer: Loving Father, purify our hearts from the hell of hatred. Through Christ we pray.

 

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    • 04-02-2008 Dan Johnson wrote:
      Thanks, Victor, for another good teaching. The current issue of World magazine has an item about a web-based organization "Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer" (atfp.org)set up to help Christians pray for their enemies. The founder, Thomas Bruce, needs prayer as well - he's being deployed to Iraq as a reservist.

      Readers, let's al pray for this vital ministry! Prayer is stronger than hate. - Victor
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