When People Hate You

Have you ever done something nice for someone? You really went out of your way, and you sacrificed a lot of personal time, maybe spent money you needed for other things, and just poured out all you could into this person’s life because you felt like it was the right thing to do. You weren’t looking for anything in return, no fanfare required or expected. You love Jesus and you acted to show His love to someone else. That was the end of it—or so you thought. Out of nowhere, that person for whom you acted out of love and concern, attacks you, questions your motives, calls you a liar, and then lies about you. Apparently, you didn’t do something exactly like they thought you should have, and so they feel free to attack you over it. Then their friends pile on, somehow accepting every word as if it simply wasn’t possible for any of it to be untrue. Before you know it, you’re in the center of a perfect storm of hatred and loathing. That’s just one scenario, but there are lots of reasons why, in your desire to live for God and proclaim His Gospel, you can end up being the object of someone’s profound hatred.

The instinctive response tends to be to hate them back, but Jesus said, “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:28). Then He gets even more outrageous: “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:35-36).

In our verse today, Jesus says we are to “leap for joy” when people despise us on His account. I don’t know about you, but that’s not always been my immediate reaction. But one day, the scenario I mentioned above happened to me. I wish I could tell you this is something I always get right, but on this occasion, I could not ignore God’s strong call to respond in love and forgiveness. I felt my heart fill with thanksgiving, and found the counsel of Scripture more valuable than ever. My response made no difference to the other person, though perhaps one day it will, but release and relief flooded my heart and the joy of the Lord poured into my soul in a tremendous way. It may not match your immediate emotions, and it may be the hardest thing imaginable to do, but when people hate you, let love be your answer… and great joy will follow.