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Discerning the Love of God

Interesting title, ain’t it? Well, today I would like to shed light on why many of us are walking in the cities, in the fields, on the streets, with dissatisfaction in our hearts. There are far too many who can relate to the expression of turmoil and emotional pain. And before some of you shut this website off, calling me a legalist when I say that we should be discerning the love of God, I just want to let you know there is a mystery within these words. For those who don’t know of this prince let me introduce the mystery of this great prince’s love for you.

Does God Hate Sinners of Love Them?

I saw a recent clip that has gone viral. I don’t want to get specific, but it’s from the Reformed Christian movement and basically, they talk about the misunderstandings in the Church. These preachers remind us of the common saying, “God loves the sinner but hates the sin.”

They then explain that this saying is found nowhere in the Bible. And they go further to mention not only that this is not found in the Bible but that it is a completely false understanding of God.

Why… they say that God hates the sinner and the sin. So, not only does He hate sin, He hates the sinner. They further support their points with scriptures which are found in the Bible such as the following.

Psalm 5:4-6 (World English Bible)
4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

What’s implied from this point onwards is that only born-again, believing Christians are loved by God. Now, I completely understand their point but I can discern that the full beauty of the Gospel was not shown. This is not where they should have stopped in their explanation because there’s so much more.

Not only do they harp on this idea as if it’s a huge revelation. And these clips fail not in garnering views for one main reason. People don’t understand how nondiscriminatory the love of God is.

Remember Jacob and Esau?

So, let’s actually look not only at what the scriptures say but at what they mean. Let’s bring back that frequently quotes passage of scripture in support of God’s hatred of sinners.

But wait a second, before anything, let’s include a bit more context…

Psalm 5:4-6 (New King James Version)
4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.

When King David was being inspired by the Holy Spirit, he prayed and wrote what is there in Psalm 5. And as you read verse 7 and 8, you realize that King David makes a distinction between the sinners who God cannot stand, and sinners like him.

Note here that he is not saying that he is perfect. On the contrary, He is saying that when He goes to God’s house, He recieves a multitude of mercy. So, what’s really being said here is not that God hates sinners, rather, it’s saying that there are sinners who refuse to know God and there are sinners who decide to go to God.

We see this same princple again with the following Bible verse

Romans 9:13 (New King James Version)
13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

Does Romans 9:13 say that God hate Esau because he’s a sinner? Yes. But does that then mean Jacob’s a goody two shoes? Nope.

Discerning the Love of God

Jacob was not righteous when considered by his works according to the Ten Commandments (even though it would come later). Same goes for David. But, the difference between Esau and Jacob or the difference between the wicked people David talks about and David, is the heart.

The heart of Jacob was willing to have a relationship with God. The heart of David was after God. Esau rejected God all the time, rejected His inheritance for a soup, rejected God’s plan for his marriage, etc…

And so, God who by nature hates sin, will hate those who love sin. And there are certain people who have hardened their hearts so much so that nothing can ever convince them to turn to God. Therefore, if a person commits to rejecting the love of God without any room for change, then God’s anger will remain upon that sinner.

That doesn’t mean God doesn’t love them, but it means God hates them for not turning away from what they’re doing, and He is angry with their stubbornness. This is just like how an earthly father will be angry at his son if he grows up to betray his country and becomes an international criminal. But, deep inside, the father still has a remnant of love for the son and as soon as that son changes his ways, the father’s love will appear.

Ezekiel 33:11 (New King James Version)
11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

Therefore, if you feel that bad because you think God is angry at you, turn to Jesus, accept His free gift of salvation. He paid the price for your sins on the cross so now you can enter into a relationship with God.

And when you believe in Jesus, you receive His righteousness so that He will never be angry at you again as He is with a sinner. Any sinner can become righteous if they come to Jesus. So, to conclude, God loves everyone. But, everyone has to make the choice if they want to reconcile their relationship with God or remain strangers.

Romans 5:8 (New King James Version)
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

To summarize, God ultimately loves the sinner but He hates the sin. God may be angry at a sinner for their actions similar to how a parent may be disappointed with their child. But, at the end of the day, He shows grace and mercy to those who trust Him.

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Why Should You Accept Jesus Christ as Lord & Saviour

The world is a full of suffering and misery. At the same time, it’s full of bliss and pleasure. Whichever world you’re in, I want you to displace your mind from that arena and to instead focus on what matters. In this post, I want to offer you three reasons why you should accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Christianity is perfect for your mental health and I intend to convince whoever is reading of accepting Jesus Christ.

You Can’t Find Anyone like Lord Jesus

I dare you to find a single individual as influential as Lord Jesus. But here’s what’s even harder to find….

I dare you to find a person who can make the claims Lord Jesus made and then back up those claims with actions even thousands of years after the initial event.

Here are three examples of claims Lord Jesus made.

Matthew 11:28-30 World English Bible (WEB)
 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

John 8:36 World English Bible (WEB)
If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

John 10:10 World English Bible (WEB)
The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

Here’s the thing, there are countless testimonies all talking about how Christ transformed their lives. Search up “Christian” and “testimony,” you will find countless people talking about how Lord Jesus transformed their lives most of the time, miraculously. This is because He does exist and He is still loving on people today and wants them to trust Him.

But let’s first take a step back because you might be a bit confused. Let me listen to your questions…

“Wait, what’s to say there is a god? For all I know, we’re lonely sentient creatures making gods to soothe our cravings for comfort?“

I will grant you the fact that we as social creatures do want someone to exist beyond our grasp. We do want a higher power, we don’t want to be alone.

That’s why Buddhists in Sri Lanka tend to supplement their Buddhism with Hinduism (which has a plethora of so called “deities”) even though Siddhartha clearly told his followers to not even think about any higher power.

Accept Jesus

But just because we have the desire for a higher power, doesn’t invalidate the possibility that there is a higher power. Just because we want something, doesn’t mean it’s fantasy. What if we were designed to want that?

“Yeah, but, say there is a god, what makes Christianity any different from other religious leaders who made religious claims?”

Ah here’s the thing, unlike other religions, Christianity makes claims and then provides evidence. Islam doesn’t guarantee healing to its followers nor does Hinduism. But the God of the Bible does guarantee healing if you have faith.

My God is not silent. He refuses to be silent and He makes His mind clear all the time. Sure, he doesn’t speak audibly all the time, but I know for a fact that He is speaking. He is intervening in human affairs and I’m a child of His so I have nothing to fear.

Do you want some evidence that the God of the Bible speaks?

Go to your room, lock the door, and get on your knees. Then clasp your hands together and pray audibly. Ask if there is truly a god, and if that God is the God of the Bible, Lord Jesus Christ, then reveal Himself to you.

I have so much confidence that He will answer your prayer because He is just waiting for you to take that one step of faith in the pursuit of truth. Once you pray this, He will reveal Himself to you in the way you expect least.

No Other God Loves You Like Christ Loves you.

I want you to accept Jesus Christ not only because He is true but because He is interactive, intimate, animated. He is a real being with real desires.

Now, I’ve the smartest man say the dumbest thing saying that he believes the god of spinoza and that if there is a god, he wants nothing to do with humans since God transcends humans on every level.

That’s silly. Imagine a father telling his 6 month old baby girl he doesn’t want to interact or care for her because she’s dumb and he’s beyond her mental capacity.

Remember the Bible calls God our Heavenly Father and although He does transcend our mental awareness, He also is in love with His children and wants everyone to trust Him as their Heavenly Father.

Isaiah 55:8-9 World English Bible (WEB )
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

And yet at the same time, the Bible also tells us…

Romans 5:8
 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

So at the end of the day, Christ tells us He loves us even though we’re far from perfect. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord, it’s the best thing you could do.

But if you’re still skeptical, my advice is to pray to the God of the Bible and ask Him to reveal Himself as Lord Jesus Christ if He’s real. I don’t know how He’ll do it, but He will, you just need to be patient.

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God Who Knew You From Before the Foundation of the Earth

This whole post finds its foundation on one Bible verse. This Bible verse is Ephesians 1:4. It very much reveals the heart of Lord Jesus Christ, the God who knew you from before Earth’s foundation. Unfortunately, most people today fail to understand this as seen by current reactions to new court rulings in America. And what’s hilarious is that I’m not talking about reactions in America, I’m talking about reactions in Canada. Nevertheless, let’s dissect what it really means in Ephesians 1:4.

Unwanted

“An unplanned child is an unwanted child” is a lie that soaks the mindsets of more than half the population today. And if you want my opinion regarding the legitimacy of that statement, it’s a resounding NOOOO!

John 8:44 (World English Bible)
44 You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.

Very clearly, Lord Jesus spoke to the people of His day and age regarding their hesitation to align with the Truth. He pointed out that they were not children of God but were instead children of the devil.

A child resembles their father and in the same way, many people today resemble in nature their spiritual father, the devil. That’s why our culture is ripe with lies killing people from the inside out. But unlike Christ, the devil does not love his children as is more than obvious when observing the state of our world.

But Lord Jesus loves this world even if the majority hates Him to the core. Yes, He is not the father of those who do not believe in Him. However, He calls for them to be His children. He is more than willing to adopt people so as long as they surrender their lives to Him. They only need to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

The God Who Knew You Very Much Loves You

And this ties into my initial point. Christ loves everyone so that even if a pregnancy is unplanned, that unborn child is dearly beloved by God. There is truly no one who is unwanted in God’s sight. That is why Apostle Paul was inspired by Holy Spirit to write the following verse.

Ephesians 1:4 (King James Version)
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

To those who are willing to accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour, your destiny was already determined. God decided that He would select you, the Church to be His and that He would pay the wages.

Our sin earned us death. That’s why Christ suffered the death we deserved at the cross. He did it because He loves us! He truly is the God who knew you even before your birth. Your value as a human being predates your parents’ decisions, it lies in the heart of God.

Romans 5:8 (World English Bible)
8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The Scales Have Fallen!

Yet, our naturalistic and now-focused mentality as a generation has confused us. The god of this world aka “satan” has blocked the world from seeing the truth and freedom found in Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (World English Bible)
4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.

It breaks my heart when Christians have to be careful with their words so much so that they cannot speak the truth of God’s love. And I’m not talking of a wishy-washy love with no substance.

I’m talking of the love of God, the love that never ends, the love that stands in unison with the truth, upheld by godly conviction. This love shatters lies and yet its most rudimentary principles are so rejected by the world that we fail to agree on life’s sanctity.

To those who are reading this post and have not accepted Christ, please for your sake, pray to the God of Heaven and ask Him if He really is Lord Jesus Christ. Your prayer won’t be left unanswered. Behold the God of the Bible and when you see Christ in the New Testament, your Spirit will be revived.

All of a sudden, your spiritual eyes will see clearly, similar to what Saul experienced when He came to Christ.

Acts 9:18
18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.

There is no greater love that can be found aside from the love of God revealed in the Holy Bible. And there, Christ stands with open arms yearning for you to realize your value in His eyes and to not only know He is the God who knew you but the God who knows you.

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The God Betrayed Many Times Over

When it comes to betrayal and Bible, the first person who generally comes to mind is Judas Iscariot. He’s the one who betrayed Lord Jesus in exchange for money. But God did not have to come to Earth as a human being in order to be betrayed. He’s actually been betrayed many times throughout the Bible. Now, I’ve talked about how God conquered betrayal in this linked post, but, consider this post a sequel which will focus more on another aspect of betrayal.

A Wicked People

The people of Israel shown in the book of Exodus and the way they behave are generally thought to represent human nature. And the scary thing about human nature is that the human nature depicted in Exodus is generally not positive.

One observation that’s enough to summarize the fabric of people in Exodus is the following verse.

Jeremiah 17:9 (King James Version)
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

The interesting thing noted in the above verse is not that the human heart is wicked. No, no, no… Rather, it’s the idea that the heart is desperately wicked. What this means is that the human heart by nature is doomed to be wicked, it has no choice but to be evil.

And so, that is why after God brought Egypt to its knees in order to rescue Israel from its slavery, they started participating in idol worship.

Exodus 32:1 (King James Version)
And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Betrayed Many Times

God was so angered with Israel that He told Moses that He should start over again by destroying them.

Exodus 32:9-11 (World English Bible)
9 Yahweh said to Moses, “I have seen these people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people. 
10 Now therefore leave me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation.”
11 Moses begged Yahweh his God, and said, “Yahweh, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 

God used this opportunity to express His anger against Israel to the point of destroying them but He knew Moses would plea for Israel. Thus, even though God said He would destroy Israel, He also knew Moses would ask Him to not destroy Israel. This means that He was only expressing His rage at Israel’s betrayal.

Exodus 32:12-13 (World English Bible)
12 Why should the Egyptians talk, saying, ‘He brought them out for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface of the earth?’ Turn from your fierce wrath, and turn away from this evil against your people. 
13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the sky, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’”
14 So Yahweh turned away from the evil which he said he would do to his people.

Redeeming Love

However, God was betrayed many times and this was not going to be the last. Israel kept on complaining about God and were never truly appreciative of what He did for them.

Now, up until this point, it’s often misunderstood that God is just angered by Israel’s betrayal. Although true, this is not the only aspect of betrayal experienced by God. He also seems to be hurt by Israel’s betrayal.

Let it be clear, however, that whenever I say God was “hurt” by Israel’s betrayal, it means that He was disappointed in the love reciprocated towards Him despite His care for Israel. This perspective is made clear by the book of Hosea.

In the Book of Hosea, God tells Prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute in order to prophetically depict God’s relationship with Israel. And this is where God really shows Israel the emotional side of how their betrayal has affected Him.

Hosea 1:2-3 (World English Bible)
2 When Yahweh spoke at first by Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, “Go, take for yourself a wife of prostitution and children of unfaithfulness; for the land commits great adultery, forsaking Yahweh.” 3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; and she conceived, and bore him a son.

Redeeming Love Continued

Furthermore, Gomer betrays Hosea and has affairs with other men. But, see the comparison God makes between Gomer and Israel in the following passage.

Hosea 3:1-3 (World English Bible)
Yahweh said to me, “Go again, love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins.” 2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley. 3 I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days. You shall not play the prostitute, and you shall not be with any other man. I will also be so toward you.”

This passage shows God is hurt by idol worship as a husband is hurt by adultery. And even then, God still loves those who betray Him as He tells Hosea to bring Gomer back.

Now, as of the time this post is being published, a movie has been released called Redeeming Love. It claims to be a retelling of Hosea, but, according to the summary I read, it can’t be. This is because the movie is about a helpless girl who is forced to sell her body.

But, that is not what the book of Hosea is about, it’s about a man who loves His wife despite her willingly betraying him. It’s about God loving a people who willingly betray Him by worshipping other false gods.

Conclusion

Now, you may have been betrayed many times by other people. But you must know that God has been betrayed many times more than you. Even today, God blesses people and they forget Him once they’ve received His blessings.

Yet, the real question is if you have betrayed God? I know I have. I’ve done terrible deeds which prove the wickedness of the human heart. I didn’t love Him first, but He loved me first.

1 John 4:10 (World English Bible)
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

And yet, He forgave me and He is always there for me even when I’m at fault. Moreover, I reciprocate His love as I love Him for how good He has been to me. Therefore, if you’ve betrayed God whether it be by idolizing money or other gods, the one true God, Lord Jesus Christ awaits your return to His loving embrace.

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Feeling Valued by the Heavenly Father

Feeling valued is a privilege now that I think about it. Nevertheless, I am blessed with family who cares for and loves me. But, my mind always strays to think of those who don’t feel like they have any significance. Even more so, what about those whose parents mistreat them or those who are the object of deep betrayal by those whom they trusted most. Now, from what I can tell, most people have family who care about them. But, I feel that the Spirit of God wants me to write this post to address those who feel like no one cares about them. Even if not applicable to you, this post shows the Christian perspective and how God views it. So continue reading.

Why Do People Like Feeling Valued?

When I say “feeling valued” is something which people want, I’m saying people want significance. They want to be important to at least someone in this world.

And we see this motive manifested in all sorts of people. A lot of people go into romantic relationships and start a family just to have this feeling. Others do the opposite, they focus on their careers and sacrifice family time for the sake of building a legacy. And it is through legacy, that these people share their value with others, even future generations.

Even more, this feeling must be met by young children for healthy development. It is often said by psychologists and anyone who’s a good parent, that children need to feel loved.

All of the scenarios shows how people do things just to be valued by others whether it be one’s family members or society itself.

But why do we have this feeling? From where does this need arise? I believe this feeling comes from an instinct we need as highly social creatures.

It comes from the fact that we were created to have fellowship with Our Heavenly Father.

Genesis 3:8 (World English Bible)
8 They heard Yahweh God’s voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.

After the creation of humanity, God walked in the Garden of Eden on what seems to be a regular basis. In fact, it seems he wanted to walk with Adam and Eve. God had created them with the intention of communion. He wanted to interact and have a relationship with us.

And so, God created us with this social nature. He designed us to have this desire to be wanted by others. He wrote it into our DNA.

What Does God Think of Me?

For most of us, the ultimate indicator of feeling valued comes from the people we first meet. Our parents. It is often our parents who show us that they love us. However, unlike most, there are some parents who are not emotionally expressive. And some rare cases are manipulative or abusive to their God-given children.

But even for these children, what does God think of them?

Isaiah 49:15 (World English Bible)
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
    that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Yes, these may forget,
    yet I will not forget you!

God rhetorically asks if a mother, the symbol of ultimate human affection, can forget her baby. And yet, God, responds to His own question that even though she forget her child, never can the heart of God forget that child.

Proverbs 22:2 (World English Bible)
2 The rich and the poor have this in common:
    Yahweh is the maker of them all.

No matter the condition you’re born in, no matter who loves you in this world, God loves you.

Feeling Valued by God

Let me share this one case from the Bible where God promised Abraham that he would have many children despite his old age. However, Sarah, Abraham’s wife, told Abraham to have children with Hagar, her servant so that he might have an heir. And Hagar did give birth to a child, Ishmael, but, so did Sarah and her child, Isaac is the result of God’s promise.

So, long story short, Hagar’s son was mocking Sarah but Sarah wouldn’t have it so she kicked both Ishmael and his mother out and into the wilderness.

Now, the point I want to make here is that Ishmael was ultimately what we would consider a mistake. He was the result of Abraham producing a child out of fear that he wouldn’t have an heir. Ishmael was the consequence of Abraham’s disobedience to God.

But what was God’s response?

Genesis 21:17-20 (World English Bible)
17 God heard the voice of the boy. The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation.” 19 God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the container with water, and gave the boy a drink. 20 God was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and as he grew up, he became an archer.

God cared about what we as humans would consider a mistake. Even if that boy was the result of disobedience to His plan, God still loved the boy. And He blessed that boy, when Abraham couldn’t be a father, God became his father.

Psalm 68:5 (World English Bible)
5 A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows,
    is God in his holy habitation.

Let me conclude with this. No matter what’s your origin story, God loves you. Moreover, the real question is asked by Lord Jesus.

Matthew 16:15
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

My answer is the same as Peter’s and if your answer is the same, then, I know you’ll get the same response as Lord Jesus gave to Peter.

Matthew 16:16-17
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

So if you like feeling valued, don’t hope in human beings to provide you that comfort. Rather, place everything in God’s hands and let Him love you. If God loves you, it doesn’t matter if the whole world hates you, when He’s on your side, that’s enough.

If you don’t already have a relationship with God, then, please read my advice concerning that here.

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Treating All With The Same Heart

If there’s anything by which we measure others by, it’s the measure of character. Those with great character naturally attract people around them. And people are especially mesmerized by those who treat others with fairness, kindness, and compassion. Treating all with the same heart isn’t necessarily easy. That is why I’ll be talking about fairness, kindness, and compassion, as well as how they pertain to one’s character and one’s heart.

Treating All With Fairness

First of all, it is vital to treat everyone you know with fairness. Treating all with fairness means that you see people, not through the lens of their varying differences; rather, you see them through the fact that they’re made in God’s image.

Why does God want us to treat others with fairness? It’s because we don’t have the right to treat others in any other way. And that’s because, without Christ, we’re all failures. We’ve all made mistakes, we’ve all lied, and we’ve all done things contrary to the pure nature of God.

I don’t even need to prove the above point because even you know you’re not perfect. To think anything different would be foolish or dishonest.

Ephesians 2:12 World English Bible (WEB)
12 that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

And our imperfectness does not allow us to enter the Heaven of a perfect God, so what God did was that He came to Earth as a human, Lord Jesus Christ. He did miracles, healed the sick, and preached about the kingdom of God.

But, religious hypocritical people hated Him for His integrity and authority, so they led the ancient Roman Government to crucify Him two millennia ago.

However, Lord Jesus Christ allowed the pain to come upon Him for a reason. That reason was to atone as a sacrifice in our place. This means that whosoever accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour will be saved.

That is why whether rich or poor, sick or healthy, smart or silly, Lord Jesus wants us to treat each other the same. He died for all, and He rose again after 3 days to live for all.

James 2:8-9 World English Bible (WEB)
8 However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”Leviticus 19:18 you do well. 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

Treat All With Kindness

Next up is kindness. Kindness is beautiful. There’s no better way to describe it. We, as people, are naturally attracted to those who show kindness. The reason for that is because God is kind, and, although we may not be kind, ourselves, we still like its nature as God created us in His image.

To be kind, according to the Bible, means to go out of your way to honour another individual.

A prime example of a kind man is Boaz.

Ruth 2:8-10 World English Bible (WEB)
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go to glean in another field, and don’t go from here, but stay here close to my maidens. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them. Haven’t I commanded the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink from that which the young men have drawn.”
10 Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, since I am a foreigner?”

Boaz heard of Ruth, a widow distantly related to him, and he let her work in his fields. But, he was a kind man loved by all his workers. When Ruth started working for Boaz, Boaz ensured that she had access to water, his other workers would not bother her, and that she worked in an area which was best suited for her.

Boaz went out of his way to ensure that Ruth was well-taken care of. Later on, the Biblical story progresses to the point of Ruth and Boaz marrying and eventually becoming the great grandparents of the renowned King David.

Ephesians 4:32 King James Version (KJV)
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Likewise, be kind to others. Go out of your way to make sure that everyone is treated properly. Treat your parents with kindness, treat your siblings with kindness, and treat your spouse with kindness. Kindness must be shown to those you know before it is appealing to those you don’t know.

This kindness within Boaz was apparent not only to Ruth but also to his long-time employees hence why they loved him.

Ruth 2:4 World English Bible (WEB)
4 Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “May Yahweh be with you.” They answered him, “May Yahweh bless you.”

Treating All With Compassion

Finally, make sure that you’re treating all with compassion.

Ephesians 4:32 King James Version (KJV)
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

The word translated as “tenderhearted” above also translates as “compassionate” in other translations. But, the actual word for it is “eusplagchnos” which is a combination of the Greek words, “eu” and “splagchnos.”

“Eu” is a Greek word God uses in the Bible to describe a servant pleasing his master. The word in the below passage underlined and bolded is the English word for “eu.”

Matthew 25:20-21 King James Version (KJV)
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

The next part of the word, “splagchnos,” literally translates as “inward parts” or “guts or bowels.” Now, this word may be referring to emotions that comes from the deepest level of one’s emotions.

To give you an idea of what this word means in context, here is an example of a verse where I underlined and bolded the word for “splagchnos.”

Philemon 12 World English Bible (WEB)
12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

So, when you put together the words “eu” and “splagchnos,” you get”eusplagchnos,” which translates as compassionate or tenderhearted.

Why am I saying this? It’s because compassion comes from a deep part within you and it desires something good for the subject of the emotion.

God’s compassion for us is genuine and gut-deep so that He desires good for us and will do something to make His desired good happen within our lives.

Therefore, show this same compassion to others and reflect the love of God. And treating all with fairness, kindness, and compassion is an expectation from Lord Jesus Christ. If you lack any of these, remember God’s love for you.

Remember His fairness to you where He is a fair judge.

Also, remind yourself of His kindness and His compassion towards you by dying in your place and blessing you.

Let these memories of God’s love motivate you to reflect His attributes. And let His Word, the Holy Bible, inspire you to practice His everlasting goodness within your life. Show fairness to everyone around you. Don’t treat any group of people less than another group of people.

Be kind and do everything you can to help others around you. And show compassion by asking God for a restoring love coming from within yourself, which yearns to bless those around you. In conclusion, make sure that you’re treating all with fairness, kindness, and compassion.

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How to Fear the Lord According to the Bible

The word “fear,” has an predominantly negative connotation in today’s world. And what I mean by that is that if someone was to randomly scream the word, “fear,” in a room with people, some negative image will come to the minds of every person in that room. But then, what does it mean to fear God? And how to fear God? This question will be the focus of this post, so continue reading.

Who is God?

Does the fear of God mean to be terrified by Him? Before I tackle this question, let me clarify some things as I don’t want to cause any confusion in this post.

The God I’m talking about is the God of the Bible. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the God who came down to Earth 2000 years ago as Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ healed the sick, freed the demon-possessed, and performed miracles, too many to count.

John 21:25 King James Version (KJV)
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

And how did the people of that time treat Lord Jesus Christ? Well, the religious leaders got jealous of Lord Jesus and they used the people’s herd mentality to pressure the ancient Roman government of that time to crucify Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 23:23 King James Version (KJV)
23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

But, do not think for a second that this event was unforeseen by God. No, on the contrary, God knew that people are corrupted, and He allowed Himself to be tortured and crucified by His own people.

The reason for this is because you and I have all sinned. We’ve all messed up somewhere in our lives. And since God is holy and perfect, He cannot let us into Heaven because we are imperfect.

Thus, we need atonement. That atonement is Lord Jesus Christ dying on the cross for you and me. When He bore hell on Earth at the cross of Calvary, we can accept His sacrifice, and forfeit the destruction awaiting us in our afterlife. He is the God I am talking about and the only God who I know. So, if you haven’t already, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

John 14:6 World English Bible (WEB)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

Terrified by the Lord?

Now, to actually deal with the question, what does it mean to fear God?

Genesis 20:10-11 World English Bible (WEB)
10 Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?” 11 Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’

Well, it certainly doesn’t mean to be terrified or petrified by Him! I mean, look at the first time this phrase is used in an English translation of the Bible.

The first time this phrase was used in the Bible was in the above verse, where Abraham hid the fact that he was Sarah’s husband to Abimelech since Abraham thought there was no fear of God in Abimelech’s domain.

Does this mean that Abraham was scared to tell Abimelech that he was Sarah’s husband because Abimelech was not terrified by God? No, it means that according to Abraham, Abimelech did not care about God’s laws or respect God.

But, let me get this straight. If there’s anyone you should be terrified of, it’s God, and God alone. Now, I want you to read this slowly, otherwise, you will get really confused.

God does not want you to be terrified of Him. God does not want you to see Him as a danger. But, if you should be scared of anything or anyone, God is at the top of the list, not the devil. And that is because God is the most powerful being to exist.

So, if you’re thinking of going against God or doing something evil to another person, prepare yourself for the consequences. God looks for everyone’s best interest, and He will stop evil through whatever means necessary.

Matthew 10:28 King James Version (KJV)
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

This should give you confidence because if God is on your side, then there’s absolutely no one to fear. Even after death, Heaven awaits you.

Continuing on, the fear of God is when you respect Him as your God. When you respect Lord Jesus Christ as your God, you will have convictions that restrain you from doing things He does not like.

Deuteronomy 10:12 World English Bible (WEB)
12 Now, Israel, what does Yahweh your God require of you, but to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, and to serve Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

How to Fear God

So, how do you fear God? You fear God by respecting Him and obeying Him.

Psalm 33:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 Let all the earth fear Yahweh.
    Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

To fear God means to stand in awe of Him. By standing in awe of Him, I mean to be in a state where you marvel at the goodness and love of God.

To fear God means to honour His love for you, and turn away from evil. Don’t do bad things because they benefit or pleasure you, turn away from them because God loves you!

Proverbs 3:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

Furthermore, God blesses those who fear Him. When you decide to respect God, God will make sure that you lack nothing in your life.

Psalm 34:9 World English Bible (WEB)
9 Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints,
    for there is no lack with those who fear him.

And another thing that comes with fearing Him, is wisdom. Once you commit to honouring God above all else, God will give you the wisdom that is relevant in your situation.

Psalm 111:10 World English Bible (WEB)
10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.
    All those who do his work have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!

So, what’s the conclusion? Fear God by honouring and respecting Him. And turn away from ways which you know aren’t right because ultimately, God loves you.

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The Difference Between Superstition and Faith

Don’t tell me there’s no difference between superstition and faith. Because the sad reality is that many people, especially skeptics, like to brand faith as just another representation of superstitious belief. So, in this post, my goal is to outline the difference between superstition and faith to clear up all the confusion within our minds. And if you have questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section.

Superstition

What is superstition? Because if we’re going to discuss the difference between two things, we need to know what the two things are.

Superstition is the belief in the supernatural out of ignorance or fear. An example of superstition is when one carves a wooden humanoid figure and then prays to it for prosperity.

Isaiah 44:17-19 World English Bible (WEB)
17 The rest of it he makes into a god,
    even his engraved image.
He bows down to it and worships,
    and prays to it, and says, “Deliver me; for you are my god!”
18 They don’t know, neither do they consider:
    for he has shut their eyes, that they can’t see;
    and their hearts, that they can’t understand.
19 No one thinks,
    neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say,
    “I have burned part of it in the fire.
    Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals.
    I have roasted meat and eaten it.
    Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination?
    Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?”

Why is that superstition? It’s because the wooden figure is something someone makes which cannot hear their words, thus, being an ignorant belief.

Another example of superstition is the sacrifice of human beings to avoid the wrath of deities. This is superstitious because the person who practises such superstition is jeopardizing someone else out of fear that disobedience to their deities will incur punishment.

Now, the million dollar question is… does Biblical Christianity follow the path of superstition?

My answer to that is “no, quite the contrary.” And I’m going to explain how instead, the God of the Bible forges a new path to follow Him, a path called “faith.”

It’s not superstition, because the God of the Bible does not want you to believe in Him out of fear or ignorance. Let me prove this in the next section.

The Difference Between Superstition and Faith

Firstly, He does not want you to believe Him out of fear. That’s why He almost always says “fear not,” whenever He approaches a person in the Bible.

I mean, look at the verse below, the first thing God told Abraham in his vision was to not be afraid. God always makes it clear that He is the last person in the world to associate with worldly fear.

Genesis 15:1 World English Bible (WEB)
15 After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Secondly, the God of Abraham does not force you to believe Him out of ignorance, although, He does expect you to trust Him when things don’t make sense. And I’ll explain the latter part of what I said in the next section, but, for now, here’s an example of Him warning us of ignorant superstition.

Jeremiah 7:31 World English Bible (WEB)
31 They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I didn’t command, nor did it come into my mind.

God was so upset with the people who burned their own children as a sacrifice to idols, and He even admitted that such a deed had never presented itself as a thought within the omniscient mind of God!

Ignorant human beings thought that by murdering their own children, they would please deities of their own making, this is something God cannot stand.

Faith

So, how does God want you to believe in Him? It’s quite simple. And we better not muddle it with our theories, laws, and superstitions. We better see it as He depicts it in His Word.

He wants us to believe in Him by faith.

Ephesians 2:8 King James Version (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

What’s faith? It’s the belief in the God of the Bible where you trust Him through what He said in His Word (the Bible), and you know His grace and love.

His grace was revealed when God came down to Earth in the form of a human being as Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that instead of God punishing you for your blunders, He would be sacrificed for you.

John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Lord Jesus Christ healed the sick, delivered the spiritually oppressed and blessed so many people during His ministry, but the religious leaders out of jealousy and fear, decided to crucify Him. Yet, this was all part of God’s plan to make the sacrifice for those who trust Him as their Lord and Saviour. I talk more about it in this post.

Therefore, put your faith in Christ Jesus as your Lord and Saviour to enter a relationship with God Almighty.

Faith is not superstition. It is the trust you put in God that He will do what He said He would do. It’s the acceptance of the creator who designed you and formed you in your mother’s womb. It is the realization that you’re significant and that you hold value in the eyes of your Heavenly Father.

This faith in Christ Jesus does not depend on your circumstances. If things aren’t going well for you, you must still trust God because He will make all things turn out for your good.

Faith is just another way of saying that God wants you to trust Him just like how you would trust someone in any other relationship. The difference between superstition and faith is tremendous so trust God; place your faith in Lord Jesus Christ.

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Life is Unpredictable in a World Where Anything Is Possible

The scary reality of the world is that life is unpredictable. And this is because our world is constantly changing. Nothing ever remains the exact same unless you’re talking about gravity, wind, or any other natural force. But, in this post, I’ll be talking mainly about how your life can change rapidly and it is my goal to touch upon how one should face this ever-changing world.

Is Unpredictability Bad?

Unpredictability seems to have a negative connotation. I mean when someone says the word, “unpredictable,” the majority of people think of something negative such as unemployment, bad people, messy situations, and more.

And it indeed has become a worry to many people, today. This agitating fear in the hearts of people is apparent when people ask themselves questions such as, “How am I going to face the future?”, or, “What if something happens and my life is turned upside down?”

These statements are common questions which depict a sense of fear of the unpredictable. People often fear the unexpected, and this can be a genuine worry for many.

Proverbs 12:25 World English Bible (WEB)
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
    but a kind word makes it glad.

Even the Bible talks about how people worried about what will become of them in the future. I modified the verse below in that I omitted some words from the beginning for the sake of emphasis. But I will quote this later in its full context.

Matthew 6:31 World English Bible (WEB) (Modified Verse)
31[…] saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’

But, why not think of unpredictability in the opposite sense? What if unpredictability could bring something good into your world?

Yes, life is unpredictable, but with that comes the possibility that things can exceed your expectations in a good sense. What if life is unpredictable in that your boss promotes you in your workplace, you find a new restaurant to eat at, or something else happens which is good.

And I believe Lord Jesus Christ reminds us of this in the Bible.

Why Life is Unpredictable

Before I get to what Lord Jesus Christ says about the matter, let me answer the question of why life is so unpredictable. It’s because God doesn’t give a guarantee that life will be predictable.

Instead, He tells us this.

Romans 8:28 King James Version (KJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

So, God never promised you that all things will be predictable. And yes, that does mean tough things may come your way. You might face challenges that make you feel like yanking your hair out.

But, He does give us a guarantee of blessings. God tells us that whatever comes our way, predictable or unpredictable, will work as part of His plan to prosper you in any way possible (physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually, and more).

Now, let’s take a look at what Lord Jesus Christ said about how people should deal with unpredictability.

Matthew 6:31 World English Bible (WEB)
31 “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’

HE SAID TO NOT GET ANXIOUS ABOUT THE UNPREDICTABLE FUTURE! And do you know why?

Matthew 6:32 World English Bible (WEB)
32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

God knows you need clothes, food, a job, and all of that! He knows what you’re asking from Him, and He is not oblivious to your needs. You’ve got to trust Lord Jesus Christ and do your part. By doing your part, I mean to do what’s right, what’s wise, and what’s efficient.

If bad health surprises you, try your best to live healthily while asking God for His healing. Or if you’re struggling financially, try your best to earn more income in an honest way while asking God for a financial breakthrough. However, let us go more in-depth in the next post.

A Helping Hand in an Unpredictable World

Lord Jesus Christ’s instructions regarding worries of the unpredictable future are the following.

Matthew 6:33-34 World English Bible (WEB)
33 But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.

Seek God’s kingdom first and His righteousness. How do you seek God? Well, first, you’ve got to accept Him if you haven’t already. And the way to do that is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Jesus Christ, being God, came down to Earth in the form of a human being.

He died on the cross in your place so that all your sins and evil gets punished through Jesus Christ, and now you can live a life in His grace. I talk more about it in this post.

Philippians 2:5-8 World English Bible (WEB)
5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross.

Now, getting back to the topic of unpredictability, Lord Jesus instructs us to not be anxious concerning our challenges. He says to take life one day at a time, and He will provide you with all that you need.

Therefore, I urge you to not worry, just thank and praise Him that He will make sure you end up in a good place. And if you want some encouragement, just read the Bible. I’d recommend that you read chapters 37 to 50 of Genesis in the Bible. You don’t have to read it all at once, just try to finish it before next week and you’ll see how Joseph faced so many unpredictable situations, both good and bad, with God’s strength.

Philippians 4:6-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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A Brief Introduction to the Man of War

In this post, I would like to introduce you to a rarely used yet Biblical way to see God. It is a view often not taken yet genuine, nevertheless. If we are to expect God to accept us as the way we are, then we ought to take a closer look at who God truly is! So, I urge you to continue reading and to witness the true God of the Bible, the renowned Man of War!

A Hero to the Defenseless

God is a man of war. That may be hard for many of you to take in, but, it is true. The Bible associates God with war. And many people seem unable to reconcile that view of God with His love.

However, I urge you to not take my word for it, take the Bible’s word, which is in the below scripture.

Exodus 15:3 King James Version (KJV)
3 The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.

Now, the way in which I reconcile this side of God as a warrior with the sweet, precious Lord Jesus Christ, is through understanding that whatever He does, He does for a reason.

God doesn’t get violent unless it’s for a cause. But, if God sees something which is evil and someone in a vulnerable position, you better know that God will lift His sleeves up and do what’s necessary. God will fight for those whom He loves and for those who trust Him.

Proverbs 31:8-9 World English Bible (WEB)
8 Open your mouth for the mute,
    in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
    and serve justice to the poor and needy.”

God is the defender of the helpless. When God was given the title as a man of war, He was defending a helpless people. He was defending Israel as they tried to leave slavery in Egypt.

The Pharaoh (leader of ancient Egypt) wanted to annihilate the people of Israel before they even had the chance to leave.

Exodus 15:2-5 King James Version (KJV)
2 The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

An Example from History

Yet, the Pharoah did not understand the God of Israel. He did not understand that the God of Israel is real and alive. The Pharoah did not accept the ten warnings that God gave to Pharoah to leave Israel alone.

Instead, Pharaoh in his pride, ignorance, and wickedness mocked God by asking Moses one question.

Exodus 5:2 King James Version (KJV)
2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

The Pharaoh of Egypt wanted to kill the children, women, men, and everyone else as they attempted to waddle to safety. Israel was harmless at that time and this man out of his stubbornness dared to destroy this people.

God could not and would not let such an injustice occur on a people He promised to keep safe. So, God stopped Pharaoh along with all his army with pillar of fire, and He split the sea wide open so that His people may pass through safely!

Then, when Pharaoh attempted to chase the people of Israel to their ruin, God let the sea wash over Pharaoh and his army. At that point, I bet you, Pharaoh realized who is the true Lord. God answered the man’s question right then and there.

Exodus 15:3 King James Version (KJV)
3 The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.

Now, what does this all mean for you? This means that in whatever the situation you’re in, God is the Man of War. If you put your trust in Lord Jesus Christ and trust Him as your Lord and Saviour, He will save you.

Acts 2:21 King James Version (KJV)
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The Man of War

God came down to Earth as a human being as Jesus Christ and He died on the cross for you and for me. We don’t have to face hell any longer because He faced hell for us. The jealous religious leaders pressured the Roman Empire of that time to scourge, beat, and crucify Lord Jesus Christ. I talk more about it in this post.

1 Corinthians 2:2 King James Version (KJV)
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Nevertheless, God could have stopped His own suffering at any time, but, He chose to go through with it because it was the only way to save us. He could have called legions of angels to terminate any trace of human existence, but, He chose to save us.

Matthew 26:53-54 World English Bible (WEB)
53 Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?”

His love is the main factor in all His decisions. And when you trust in His love, you will understand that despite the challenges of life, His love will save you from them all!

Many of you out there have your own story, your own struggles, and your own challenges, but, there is one God who is your Heavenly Father. Your Heavenly Father loves you. He knows you more intimately than anyone else could.

So, God will deliver you out of your financial struggles, your illnesses, and all the things that worry you. Just entrust all your cares to Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one solution.

1 Peter 5:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

He knows you from your first heartbeat until your last heartbeat. He is the God who cares for you, defends you, and trains you. But remember that your enemies are not physical human beings.

The angry person in front of you is not your enemy, rather, it is the devil and his demonic spirits which influence people to do evil. So, pray for the person, but understand at the same time, that God will keep you safe, just trust Him.

Matthew 5:44 World English Bible (WEB)
44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

Ephesians 6:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

In conclusion, let God deliver you out of all your pressures and challenges. Be faithful to Him and let the love of God lead you.

1 John 4:8 World English Bible (WEB)
8 He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love.