All over the world brothers and sisters have been persecuted because of their faith in Christ. Churches everywhere, they even have a designated Sunday to pray for the persecuted church and to share their stories. The beauty of those stories is that, sometimes, the persecutor, becomes the persecuted.
This is what happened with Saul. In our series Encounters with the Resurrected Christ,we witness all his hate toward Christians, the persecutions that he inflicted on them, until he met Jesus Himself on the road to Damascus. You can read that story here Acts 22: 4-8. This is the proof that hate can be overcome and cured.
Let us see how it happened with Paul:
3 – The Cure for Hate
In Galatians Paul gives us some hope, based on his own experience, for the cure of hate. Here is the text: “Gal. 1:23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”” Yes, there is a cure for hate, and here are the steps:
A – The Plan of God – The first step is God, with His plan and sovereignty. God has a plan for some people, and that plan will include people who hate and persecute His church. This is what God said to Ananias about Paul: “Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.” And this is what Paul wrote: “1Tim. 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.”
B – The Manifestation of Mercy – After the plan and action from God in the life of the person who hates Him and His people, God will show mercy. Mercy, as someone wisely put, is: “God not given us what we deserve.” Paul wrote: “1Tim. 1:13 … I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.”
C – The Grace that was Abundantly Poured – After mercy comes grace, the unmerited favor, or as the same person who defined mercy said: “Grace is receiving from God what we do not deserve.” In Paul’s case, the grace was poured out on him abundantly. This is what he wrote: “1Tim. 1:14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”
D – The Faith in Christ – After God puts you in His plan, treats you with mercy and grace, He will give you faith. He will enable you to believe that He is God, and His Word is the Truth. Paul wrote this: “1Tim. 1:14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” That is not from us, we cannot just start believing, God must do something inside of us.
E – The Love that is in Christ – It is interesting that love will show up only now. This means that the love of God will be manifested in our lives, because of His plan, mercy, grace, and faith were abundantly poured on us. “1Tim. 1:14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” This love is the love that is in Christ for those who even hate Him and His people.
F – The Unlimited Patience – Finally, we have a dose of unlimited patience. God is very patient with people that hate Him and His people. We are not. In the first threat, word, or look, we are already asking God to stretch His hand and punish our enemies. God, has a plan for them, and because of that He uses His unlimited patience, to give time for mercy, grace, faith, and love work. Paul wrote this: “1Tim. 1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” Where would you be, where would I be if God did not use His unlimited patience with us?
Hate can be overcome and cured. God with his plan, grace, mercy, faith, love, and patience for all of us, friends and foes.
As you read this article, many brothers and sisters are being persecuted around the world. The word for us today is the one that the author of Hebrews wrote: “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:3”
Have a blessed week,
Pastor Lucas