Hate

Let's be honest; we all have experienced the emotion of hate. Someone did something to you, told a story about your friend, ignored you. Maybe there are valid reasons, maybe not. Hate is an emotion that can consume your thoughts as well as your actions. Hate is never indifferent. It is one of the most passionate emotions that we ever feel. It is also the emotion that fueled the 1st murder in the history of the world. I spoke to a group of high school students about it last night and this morning there was a reference on ESPN radio to Cain and Abel. (SHOCKING!!!)

You might know the story. Cain the farmer brought his crops to the altar for God. Abel brought livestock to be sacrificed. There was a difference though and it was more than what they bring. It was the quality of what they brought. Abel brought the best of his livestock, while Cain brought the crops that were not the best. Abel was commended by God and Cain was reprimanded. Cain, the older brother, was jealous of the recognition his kid brother got. I can picture it consuming his mind and the anger built and the hatred for his brother took over this thoughts. It was hate that propelled Cain to action. In a nearby field, Cain killed Abel. The 1st son of Adam and Eve committed the 1st murder.

WE HAVE A CHOICE

In every situation, in every contact with another person, in every relationship...you have a choice. you can choose to love. You can choose to hate. Of course there will be times when hate will fill your heart and I am not saying that it is wrong to hate certain things in this world. But there are certain situation when hate is wrong. It is never allowed to hate a person. It is never allowed to respond in hate toward a person. You might not literally be killing them, but in many case; you kill their hopes, you kill their confidence, you destroy their feelings. Hate is a powerful emotion. So is LOVE. Love can lift a person's spirits. Love can restore hope. Love can fill a person with self-value. Love can make a person feel like they matter in this world. And the truth is...we all want to matter.

You have a choice. Love. Hate. Choose wisely.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)