HOW TO RELATE WITH YOUR HATERS
(A Christlike approach)
Matthew 10:22-23 NLT
And all NATIONS WILL HATE YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE MY FOLLOWERS. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.
Luke 6:22,27-28,35-36 NLT
What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man... “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES! DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU. BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU. PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HURT YOU.
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for HE IS KIND TO THOSE WHO ARE UNTHANKFUL AND WICKED...
You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
You cannot help or control what people feel or think about you. All you can do is to focus on growing in grace and becoming the best version of yourself that God delights in.
It is very normal and okay to be loved by some and hated by others. Some people in life will constitute your lovers and well-wishers who want to see you happy, progressive, and successful. Others will be indifferent towards you without any concern or care whatsoever. Others still will constitute your haters who are against your welfare or happiness. Haters will not wish you well. Instead they will scheme against you to crush your vision or dreams. Their desire is to experience your failure, disgrace, downfall, or destruction.
Jesus was despised and killed by his haters for no just cause despite his virtuousness, benevolence, and good works. They witnessed his greatness but it only fueled the hatred they felt for him. Anyone who hates Christ and the children of God who belong to the Kingdom of Light is nothing but a wicked diabolical lover of darkness (John 15:18-25). Christ assures us that we will experience and suffer the hatred of the wicked world simply because we do not belong to this perishing world.
The same attributes of beauty, graciousness, excellence, and virtuousness that will make some people respect, love, adore, admire, and favour you will cause others to despise or hate you. In life people will try to belittle you, put you down, and hurt you because they are jealous or envious of your attributes or progress. Some will not support and encourage you because they are full of resentment towards your excellence, your glory, and your greatness. Some may find fault with you and your work because they harbor concealed hatred or jealousy towards you.
David did absolutely nothing wrong to King Saul yet Saul hated David and tried to kill him on several occasions because David was clearly the godly, favoured, faithful, and successful personality. Hatred may be concealed for a while but it will inevitably reveal its ugly head and its wicked colours.
LOVE THEM FROM A DISTANCE
The heart of the Christian should never harbor envy and hate towards anyone. Instead our hearts must be filled with God's unconditional love for all mankind (including our worst enemies and haters). We must never wish anyone ill or pray that evil befalls them. Instead we must clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness. Remember that you are a harmless and gentle sheep or dove as a child of light. Your adversaries are the vicious wolves, cunning serpents, stubborn goats, and harmful scorpions.
David distanced himself from Saul. Jesus behaved the same way towards the cruel, unjust, and evil Pharisees and religious elites of his day who hated him and wanted him dead. Stay away from haters or those who want to hurt you and ignore them or their thoughts. Don't try to please them or change their opinions of you. Enjoy the companionship of those who genuinely love you and care about your welfare. Thrive on the friendship of your beloved. Grow in divine grace to become the best version of yourself that you can be.
Grace and Peace to you dear reader and friend.
