Love Me--Hate Me

Truth resonates, even in the Christian life, from the following well-known adage: 


There's a thin line between love and hate.

Jesus is the perfect example of this mystery. On Sunday, people are revering, praising, adoring, and worshiping Him while laying palm branches at His feet. A few days later, the same people cry out for Him to be crucified. They hate Him, spit on Him, and call Him horrible names. They mock Him and treat Him like dirt.

Clearly, I am not the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; I'm not even worthy to kiss his feet. The way some people treat me, however, brings me closer to Him in His sufferings. It also gives me motivation to treat others like Christ does and to love as He loves. He hung on the cross crying out, "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do." No matter how deeply and actively I am hated by people who once claimed to love my family and me, I still have an obligation to love and forgive my offenders, and like Jesus, to pray for them. My flesh wants to hate as I am hated. I cannot let my self win. 

A Prayer of David.

    Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!

From your presence let my vindication come!

    Let your eyes behold the right!

    you have tested me, and you will find nothing;

    I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.

With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips

    I have avoided the ways of the violent.

My steps have held fast to your paths;

    my feet have not slipped.

    incline your ear to me; hear my words.

Wondrously show your steadfast love,

    O Savior of those who seek refuge

    from their adversaries at your right hand.

    hide me in the shadow of your wings,

from the wicked who do me violence,

    my deadly enemies who surround me.

    with their mouths they speak arrogantly.

They have now surrounded our steps;

    they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.

He is like a lion eager to tear,

    as a young lion lurking in ambush.

    Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,

from men by your hand, O Lord,

    from men of the world whose portion is in this life.

You fill their womb with treasure;

    they are satisfied with children,

    and they leave their abundance to their infants.

    when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

How can one go from being loved to being hated in a matter of days, hours, minutes, or even seconds? How can people who claim Christ show great love for other Christians and then seemingly hate them as deeply whether a wrong has been committed or not? I don't know the answers to these questions, yet I do know it happens more often than people would like to admit.

The world doesn't understand how loving haters is possible. How can Christians truly love people who continue to wrong them? Only by the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives and the remembrance of what Christ has done for them. 

This Psalm brings much encouragement to me when the enmity stings me time and again:

Psalm 17, ESV

Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry!

You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;

Keep me as the apple of your eye;

They close their hearts to pity;

Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him!

As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;