I already know this sounds repetitive, especially lately. I know you have heard it again and again on the Internet, the news and the radio. I do not think it can be said enough. The real issue is not just saying it, but instead truly showing it.
Some different definitions of love are: a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person; a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend; due gratitude and reverence to God. While there are many, many more definitions, as human beings love should be first and foremost in our minds. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, it says, "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." Did you read that? The greatest is love! It should be that way in our lives, too. Love needs to be above all else.
Unfortunately, in the world today, hate is more prevalent than love. A few definitions of hate are: to have a great aversion to a person, with a strong desire that evil should befall the person toward whom the feeling is directed; to dislike intensely; to detest; to be very unwilling. In Romans 12:9 it says, "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." While the Bible tells us this, it seems we tend to cling to what is evil instead. We find ourselves wanting to be involved in doings that are against God's will for our lives.
Trust me, I know as well as you do that it is much easier to hate than to love. I am not talking about the young relationship "I-love-yous" with absolutely no meaning behind them. I am talking about genuine love. In 1 John 4:7, we can read, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." Hello, people! This is telling us to love one another. There are no exceptions here. It does not say love one another until that person ticks you off or until they seem to not be loving you. It says love comes from God. If God has undeniable love for us we can have the same love for all people.
Proverbs 10:18 states, "Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs." As humans, we will all sin over and over again, but that does not mean we cannot love. Hating someone else because of their sin would basically be giving them permission to hate you because of yours. That is not how we should want this world to work. We should love people, all people. We should show that love unconditionally, even in the hard times.
Love can only dominate hate if we allow it. Love can only take over if we show it. If we, as a society, continue to show hate more than love, that will be our ultimate downfall. Love has to start dominating hate or this world will dominate our chance at an everlasting heavenly life.
