Inside Out: A 40 Day Journey to Transforming Your HeartSample

Hateful Heart --> Loving Heart

In our upside-down world, sometimes hating others seems like a righteous attitude. The world says it is appropriate to hate murderers, adulterers, rapists, slanderers, child abusers, bigots, and racists. Even as we read that list and think of all the evil, the destruction, and even the hate the exudes from them, God says we are not to hate them. Just because someone has sinned and grievously harmed others, we are not given the green light to hate them for it. Leviticus 19:17 says, "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him." When we hate others, we fall into our own sin in our hearts.

God completely abhors sin. Sin is what ignites the wrath of God toward the unjust and immoral. They will receive the full punishment for their actions when confronted by Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ. No sin will go unpunished, and they will experience the wrath of God for all eternity. But for now, earth is a moment in time where God's love and grace are offered even to the worst of sinners. Jesus died for all people because all people are made in God's image. It is up to them if they cry out to the Lord for forgiveness and repent of their sins. If they do, they will receive the grace of God at the Great White Throne of Judgment and be welcomed into His presence. This does not mean they won't receive consequences on earth. Justice is right and appropriate, but hating them is not. Proverbs 24:17 says, "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles." We need to see even the worst of sinners as completely lost and in need of God's love, grace, and forgiveness. Only then will they be transformed and stop their evil acts toward others.

We are challenged to have a loving heart toward others, hoping that they will see Christ in us and want to turn to Him for mercy. 1 Peter 4:8 says, "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly since love covers a multitude of sins." This does not mean we cover up or defend the sin of another. It means we do not damn them on this side of eternity because our love and forgiveness just might be what saves them. Jesus says in Matthew 5:43-45, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.'" Jesus teaches us to do something that might seem downright impossible to do. We are to pray for someone who is intentionally against us. Jesus asks us to do this because then we truly have His heart for the lost. He died even for those who abandoned Him in His greatest time of need. He died for those who condemned Him to the cross. He died for those who whipped His back, spat on His face, and pounded nails in His hands. Jesus lived out what He is asking us to do: love our enemies.

It might seem impossible to love our enemies enough to care about their eternal destiny. Our perspective needs to change and see that loving our enemies is one of the greatest gifts we can give to God. It is a form of worship. Mark 12:33 says, "And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." This is about our trust in God's character. He is entirely merciful and just, even toward our enemies. Our role is to love so that lost people might come to repentance. God's role is to pursue the sinner, offer His grace, and give it to those who repent. God's part is also to judge the unrepentant and condemn them. Our hearts must relinquish holding onto hate if we want to have the loving heart God asks us to have toward others.

When I served in East Asia, I was sexually assaulted on a bus. The man had his hands all over me, touching me in inappropriate ways. Everyone on the bus seemed to look away, allowing it to happen. I froze in fear. I couldn't defend myself. I let it happen.

When I got home, I fell in the house's doorframe and cried. I felt violated and abandoned. I listened to worship music to get my mind on the Lord. That's when I sensed Him speaking to me. "Holly, will you forgive this man for what he did to you? He did it in public, which not only shames him but all the people around him in his culture. He is so lost. He didn't know what he was doing." I chose in my heart to forgive. Then God asked, "Holly, will you pray for this man's salvation? If he believes in me, he will stop sexually assaulting women and be healed from sexual addiction." I chose in my heart to pray for his salvation. But then, the Lord asked me the most challenging question of all, "Holly, can you thank Me that this happened to you and not some other woman on the bus? You see, his actions may have so damaged another woman, she would down spiral into letting men continue to abuse her, and she'd be enslaved by her insecurities. You have me. You will heal. I am with you. I allowed this to happen to you because I know you are already Mine, and we can walk through this together." Whew! It took all of me to say, "Thank you, Lord, for allowing this to happen to me instead of others." But when I did, I was free. There was no hate left in my heart, which is when I was able to begin healing.

When we feel hate consuming us, it is time for us to sit at the foot of the cross. Remember, we, too, deserve the wrath of God, and yet He's given us His grace and love. We are no better than our enemies. We are all sinners equally in need of a Savior. This realization will give us the courage to surrender our hate and pursue loving our enemies from the inside out.

Take a Moment:

• Who have you thought it was ok to hate but now know it's not?

• Who is God bringing to mind that you need to forgive, pray for, and love better?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, change my heart. Some people are very hard to forgive and love in my life. It is hard to understand why I am to love evil people. Help me have Your heart and desire for them to know You so that they can change and stop hurting others. Help me to worship You with my whole heart by loving people who hate me. Amen.