“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.”
1 John 4:20
Everybody knows “that” person.
I saw “that” person about a month ago. I was sitting in a coffee shop reading and “that” person walked right in the door. I know “that” person saw me, but they drifted on by not even acknowledging that I existed. I acted like I didn’t see “that” person either because talking to them is awkward, full of pregnant silence — so I began reading my book, pretending to be engrossed. With my head tilted down and away from “that” person, I was stewing, furious that they occupied the same space, and world, as I.
“That” person is the one person that makes my blood boil. I don’t like them at all and I am pretty sure they don’t like me either. If you were to ask me to say something nice about “that” person, one positive comment, it would take everything out of me to do so. I just can’t. “That” person has hurt me badly in the past, and they arrogantly carry on not considering they have ever done anything wrong. “That” person has slandered me, turned other’s against me and I know they feel justified in doing so.
“That” person doesn’t deserve my kindness.
When someone talks to me about “that” person, I try not to respond. I have nothing good to say. When people talk well about “that” person, I want to scream! I want to spit fire and say, “You don’t know them like I know them!” I want to expose their faults and declare their dishonesty and conceited ways from the rooftops so everyone will despise them as much as I. I want “that” person to fail.
“That” person is a threat to others and I want them stopped.
Scripture says I should never hate, but when it comes to “that” person, I may have crossed the line? They hurt me, they have hurt people I love, they deserve to feel the hurt themselves…don’t they? Eye for an eye? Reap what you sow? Feel the burn?
What is sad is that we were once friends. I actually liked “that” person — but not anymore. The mercy I once had for them has run dry. I’m tapped out…
God isn’t! God hasn’t stopped loving “that” person. God even had His Son die for “that” person. So if God hasn’t quit on “that” person, what right have I? But God hasn’t been hurt by that person like I have, God hasn’t been attacked like I have, God doesn’t know how hard I tried in the past to be reconciled only to be rebuffed. God doesn’t understand.
He doesn’t?
“More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?”
(Psalm 69:4 in reference to Jesus)
Let me ponder that again, “If God hasn’t quit, what right have I?” But I don’t want to try again. I am tired of being hated. It is easier to hate than reapproach in love, so much easier. But am I not a Christian, a little Christ? And if I am, do I not have an obligation to love?
“He who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
“That” person deserves another chance. “That” person needs to be loved too. “That” person once was you; “…and yet while we were yet sinners, enemies, Christ died for us.” He died for us while we were caught in rebellion. We were “that” person to Him. But he never quit on us!
Who is your “that” person? Who do you come close to hating? Who have you written off? If you claim to be a little Christ, you can’t quit on them. You just can’t. Allow God to turn your heart back toward “that” person. Name them, give them back their dignity as a person made in the image of God. Give them another chance.
This morning I asked God to forgive me and to help me pray for “that” person. He even brought to mind a few more “that” persons in my life. Everyone knows “that” person. But not everyone will give them another chance.
Maybe this is how you can tell if you really love God — will you love “that” person again?
