Among other radical things, Jesus commanded us is to love our haters. It's not a suggestion. Now, try to get a mental picture of your haters and all the times they pissed you off. Or the troubles you went through because of them--like if your boss, for some strange reason, hates you and takes special note of all your little mistakes and makes a big deal of them.
And it's not enough just saying you love your haters because Jesus didn't stop there. He said, "Do good to those who hate you." You actually have to do something to make them feel loved, like buying them ice cream, for instance? I'm not kidding. Jesus said DO GOOD. And he's never just exaggerating things to make a point. Jesus always means what he says.
Well, don't get me wrong. It's okay to be pissed off by your haters once in a while. Even God was pissed off several times by his chosen people, Israel, in the bible. He punished them and sent them into exile--the whole nation of them. Imagine that. But, believe it or not, that was his love for them. I mean, he did that for their own good--and for the sake of His Name.
Did he DO GOOD to them that hated him (the Israelites rebelled against him a lot)? You bet. He still rescued them over and over up the end and finally drove out all their enemies from their land so they could claim their inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey. During that time, it was their version of being treated to special ice cream. See? God actually gave them a treat in the end--milk and honey.
If you lose your temper over haters and detractors and the likes, don't feel so bad. You got company with a lot of God's servants in the bible. Moses violently threw the stone tablets (after God wrote his commands on them with HIS own finger) when he lost his temper over Israel's idolatry, led no less by his brother, Aaron. David had an Amalekite messenger struck down for admitting killing King Saul (though it was a false claim). Prophet Samuel also struck down Agag, king of the Amalekites, after Saul spared his life though God wanted Agag killed.
And you've heard, of course, how Elijah sent fire from heaven to consume several captains and their men, and how Elisha cursed teenage boys who meant harm so that two bears suddenly appeared and killed them. What a way to be pissed off.
At least, when you're pissed off by people, you haven't done anything these men of God had done in the Old Testament. You're tamer and more patient. I mean, you haven't called down fire from heaven, have you? So you're still below average compared to them.
Have you seen how Jesus was pissed off by his detractors? He didn't kill anyone but he certainly said fiery, insulting words against them.
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves."
Wait. There's more.
"You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?"
And yet, Jesus told his followers to love their enemies and do good to them. Did he treat them to an expensive Mediterranean restaurant or anything like that? Did he produce and serve them the best wine of all? He didn't. So what good did he do to them? Because that was his teaching--do good to them. Well, while in great pain and nailed to a cross and accused unfairly by these religious leaders, Jesus asked the Father to "forgive them for they do not know what they're doing."
That's doing good to those who hate you. He didn't just say, "Okay guys, I really love you!" He bled and died for them, and asked God to bless them with forgiveness.
So, here's the point. Loving your haters doesn't mean you never get pissed off with them. You may (though it's not a privilege, really). But the important thing is to:
1. Forgive them.
2. Do good to them.
You may treat them to a buffet lunch if you feel like it, but the more important thing is to sacrifice your ego and ask God to forgive them. And at least like their posts on FB. Does this mean God will indeed forgive them? Nope, not necessarily. They will have to go through the process--feel remorse and repent. If not, then God won't forgive them. So why ask at all? Because God is after the condition of your heart. He wants you surrendered at all times.
Surrendering to Jesus
Ask forgiveness and repent of your sins. Believe God's forgiveness. It is promised in the bible. Then receive Jesus Christ into your heart as your sole Savior and Lord, then be assured of heaven, not because of anything you have or do, but because of God's grace and mercy through Jesus Christ. Surrender to Him by intently studying the bible daily (ask guidance from the Holy Spirit) and applying in life everything you learn. And then pray that God lead you to the right person who'd disciple you, one who is totally surrendered to Jesus and living His words in the bible.
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