But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.
—1 John 2:11 NLT

Hatred is a noun that means “the feeling of one who hates: intense dislike or extreme aversion or hostility.” —Dictionary.com

Very few of us want to think we are hateful. We don’t want to be viewed in that light. Yet, sadly, we humans frequently give way to hatred in small ways. We take sides. We label our side “good” and the other side “bad,” and then we view both sides through that skewed lens. Whatever our side does is justifiable and right—even when it isn’t. Whatever “their side” does, by the very fact it’s their side, is always terribly wrong, evil, and ridiculous. We do this with politicians and teams, and in wars, we do it with entire populations of people. And it is so, so wrong. Hatred blinds us.

Hatred led to Hitler’s concentration camps in Nazi Germany. Hatred has caused slaughter and mayhem for centuries in other wars and crimes against humanity. When we cease to see uniquely made people and instead lump them into hated groups, we’ve chosen darkness over light. It’s easy to point the finger at large atrocities and forget that we can also walk in darkness when we cease to see another human as made in the image of God with unique strengths, weaknesses, and handicaps.

I came across this verse recently in John’s letter to Christians undergoing persecution, and the phrasing intrigued me. “But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness” (1 John 2:11 NLT). When we hate a fellow believer, we walk in darkness. Hatred literally blinds us to nuance and keeps us from seeing the person clearly. When we decide someone is the enemy and give way to hatred and animosity, we give up clarity and paint them as we would the bad guy in a superhero movie. We lose perspective. And darkness wins.

Let’s not do that.

Jesus had some startling things to say about enemies. He challenged us to “ …love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that (Matthew 5:44b-47 NLT).

When we start disliking anyone, especially a “fellow believer,” as John phrases it, we need to make changes quickly before we are walking and stumbling about in the darkness. Jesus tells us how. It starts with prayer. When we pray for the one who has betrayed us in some way, hurt our feelings, or has been just been plain annoying, we are bringing them to the Light. We bow before the God who made them and knows them, and as we pray, we start to sense His love for them and to see how much they (and we) need Him.

All of us were made by God and can be used by Him in mighty ways to serve and help in this broken world. God is able to redeem terrible people and turn them from darkness to light. When we notice hatred creeping into our thoughts and minds, we must answer the question: Will I choose hatred and blindness? Or will I bring this enemy to the Light and pray for that one to find healing for their troubled soul and peace in Christ?

Heavenly Father, when I am hurt, it is really hard for me to let go of that pain and bring it to You. Help me to run quickly to You, asking You to turn me from the darkness of hatred to the light of Your love. Help me to pray for my enemy and ask for Your blessing on their life. Use me and my prayers to bring love and peace to the situation instead of darkness and chaos. Thank You for Your clear direction that we are to love our enemy. Help me to obey. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You are loved,
Sharon

Sweet Selah Ministries 

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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