LOVE & HATE
TRUTH from GOD instead of lies from the world
This is NOT easy.
It IS simple.
The world has a really messed up view of love and hate. In fact, the world will change the definitions back and forth as it suits their desires in the moment.
NO WONDER WE ARE CONFUSED
GOD is quite clear. The absence of love is hate. If we could have loved that person more and we chose not to, that is hate. If we turn away to ignore and pretend we did not see or hear them, that is hate. If GOD tells us to treat people a certain way and we do not, that is hate. GOD is love. HIS WORD is love. GOD says if we do not love, then we do not know GOD. That's heavy. Let us respond to GOD in prayer, asking HIM to help us love others the way HE loves us; asking HIM to teach us more about love. JESUS tells HIS disciples that the world will KNOW that we are HIS disciples, by our love for one another. Let us not prefer ourselves over anyone. GOD tells us exactly that, actually, to esteem others as more important than ourselves. Let us be servants wherever we go, as JESUS was and told us to be. GOD will correct the balance of our losses and the world will see the love in us that we see in GOD all day every day.
Below, you'll find an ongoing word study in GOD'S WORD, both "love" and "hate".
Let's see what GOD has to say about love and hate.
Hate
What does GOD say
in HIS WORD?
Love
What does GOD say
in HIS WORD?
Hate
“Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear GOD, men of TRUTH, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
"And you you shall perceive (thchze) from all of the people mortals of ability fearing ones of ELOHIM mortals of TRUTH ones hating of gain and you place over them chiefs of thousands chiefs of hundreds chiefs of fifties and chiefs of tens
GOD setting up the first government for the people HE rescued from Egypt, uses Moses' father-in-law, who tells Moses to not try and lead the people alone, solving every little problem for over a million people. The first mention of hate is in these men who would be chosen to help rule and judge the people. Our English text says they would hate dishonest gain, but the Hebrew text suggests they hated gain, meaning that they would not live their lives trying to gain for themselves. No horse in the race, so to speak. Like we would ask our congress to not trade stocks and make money off the stocks they are in charge of governing. Are they for the people? Or for themselves?
Love
Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”
And HE is saying take you please!! (na) son of you only one of you whom you love Isaac and go you for you to land of the Moriah and offer up you him there for ascent offering (l·ole) on one of the mountains which I shall say to you.
I find it interesting that the first mention of LOVE is of a father to his son. Like the same LOVE that would save the world, the LOVE between GOD the FATHER and SON. Also, please is in the original text. I just think that's really cool... how gentle GOD is. <3