Friday, 19th February, 2021.
Bible Reading: 1 John 4: 7-21, Matthew 5: 43-44
Memory Verse: If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1John4:20(ESV)
It was Martin Luther King Jr. who said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that”. Have you ever met a man who gave love instead of hatred? Habila Adamu, the character study from our yesterday’s devotional best fits into this description. Come to think of it, some people came into your house, shot at you almost to the point of death and yet, you proclaim to love them.
No anger. No animosity. No resentment. No bitterness. No hatred. That reminds me of another young lady who some religious fanatics amputated in Lebanon, but vowed to live her life evangelizing the same country for Christ even with no legs! Who does that? Of course, only one whose personal will has been crucified with Christ. Hard challenges always have a way of revealing the depth of our faith to us. In the words of A.W Tozer, “You will need a graduate level grace to love your enemies”. “If you want to forget something or someone, never hate it, or never hate him/her.
Everything and everyone that you hate is engraved upon your heart; if you want to let go of something, if you want to forget, you cannot hate. – C. JoyBell C. There are certain kinds of enemies Jesus Christ said we should love. They know not…. (Psalm 82:5). They have been wrongly indoctrinated. They think by killing people they will have many virgins and mansions in heaven. Jesus came that no man would perish but have everlasting life.
As Christians, we must strive to have a balanced understanding of the scriptures. Only the love of God, and raw demonstration of the His power will win certain people to Christ. However, if they choose not to repent on their own volition having sold out their souls to the devil, they risk the fiery judgement of God. Dear brethren, where have you showed hatred for evil down against you? Behind the person who did that evil is a spirit back up. Love the person, expel the foul spirit.
Hatred is setting a whole house on fire because of an intruding rat. Hatred, like any other negative emotions causes both emotional, mental and spiritual breakdown. If you must make heaven, learn to love when your flesh crave to show hatred, unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment or animosity. God is a good judge. Vengeance belongs alone to God. He will surely repay in due time.
Quote: Hate the sin, love the sinner -Mahatma Gandhi
Prophetic Decree: Receive power to live above all negative emotions, in Jesus name.
Prayer Focus
1. Thank you Father because you are the good Judge.
2. We break every stronghold of the mind sponsoring hatred and unforgiveness, in Jesus name.
3. I come against the spirit of bitterness and resentment, in Jesus name.
4. Blood of Jesus, purge my heart, in Jesus name.
5. Divine judgement, come upon all my unrepentant enemies, in Jesus name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 19-21