So recently, I've been thinking about hate.
Yeah, you read that right. Hate is something nearly as powerful as love, yet still so weak compared to it. As Proverbs 15:1 says, "A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger."
Showing love rather than hate can change the very world around us. Even if there are those who can see love being offered and shrug it off, perhaps they just need more love than others. Some have hate so built up that they can do this, but love works gently and slowly. Once its effects take place, however, they break down the walls of hate like the walls of Jericho.
I have hated people before. It's almost a fact of life that we as humans hate. Our sin nature turns our head toward hatred instead of love, which is why God desires to turn us back to love. Jesus Himself told the people of His time on earth to "love their neighbors", and Paul the Apostle urged us in the Book of Galatians to "do good to all".
"Do good"... a phrase my Dad would always tell me. This is another concept I've been meditating on. When Paul tells us to "do good", or my dad tells me to "do good", it's not a grammar mistake. Some might say the proper way is to do well.
This is not the case.
To "do good", makes good a noun, not an adjective. Doing good is the very essence of what the Christian life is about, in fact, it's the very essence of Jesus' message, of Jesus Himself!
Nahum 1:7 proclaims that "The Lord is good! A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him."
The Lord, our God of Creation is good! He is not only the perfect example of goodness but the manifestation of goodness.
To do good is to do the work of God. By doing God's work, we glorify Him by "shining our light before men", the light that God gives us.
As we love others, we love God as well. This is perfectly illustrated in the fable of the sheep and the goats. This is found in the Book of Matthew, Chapter 25, verses 31-46. The sheep and the goats have one, clear difference: what they did and did not do. The sheep did good works for God's glory. In loving others and helping them, they showed God's glory and love for others. The goats did nothing. They looked after themselves and turned away those less fortunate, those who sought God's love but were let down and refused it.
I urge you, do good! As my dad urged me, as Paul urges all of us, do good to all! Jesus Himself commanded the same, so shouldn't we pay attention?
"Do good today!" -Joseph J. Hagala
Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[d]38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[e]40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Galatians 6:10 NKJV
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
