You simply cannot be in the light (walking as Christ walked) and hate your brother.

“He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because darkness has blinded his eyes.” (1 John 2:10-11)

If we are filled with hate, we are walking in darkness, we don’t know where we are going, we are going to trip and stumble all over the place.

Hate will mess us up.
That’s all there is to it.

And I know, sometimes, you feel justified because you’ve been hurt, mistreated, abused, neglected, unappreciated, and rejected…I get it.

And this is especially hard when this hurt comes from another Christian.

Shouldn’t THEY know better? Yes, of course, they should.

But look at that verse (1 John 2:10-11), there is no “loop-hole”, no excuse, no way you can hate someone else and expect to hear from the Lord and walk in His peace.

Surely, nothing is worth that!

If you want to have a wonderful, growing, full-of-peace-that-makes-no-sense life, you’ve got to forsake the hate, forgive, and love others.

And if we want to stop walking around in darkness and we want our “JOY to be full” (1John 1:4) then we have to do this!

And friends, the only way any of us can do this, is to allow God to work in and through us.

This means we apply the Word to our lives.

God says, “Pray for your enemies” (Matt 5:44). So, you start right now and pray for that person who has hurt you!

Yes, right now!

Seriously, stop reading this, and pray right now.

And then, keep praying! Ask God to help you see them as He sees them….and watch your heart soften and watch your JOY fill up!

Friends, this is how we forsake bitterness, and misery, and walk in the light!

This is not Pollyanna stuff- this is powerful truth so you can walk in victory!

This is where we find the strength to forgive and experience freedom.

God is for you. You can trust Him. Do what He says and you’ll find joy!

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