1 Peter 2:1 (TLB) So get rid of your feelings of hatred. Don’t just pretend to be good! Be done with dishonesty and jealousy and talking about others behind their backs.
While the world may be filled with all manner of hate and dishonesty, that type of life doesn’t belong in the child of God. Why? Because we have the risen, eternal, glorious Savior living within us. We have been redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Since the glorious Christ lives in every true believer, His life should flow through us out to a lost and dying world. Since we have been made new creations in Christ Jesus, our Lord calls us to be done with hatred, meaning that we are to forgive everyone who has hurt us, done us ill-will and mistreated us in any way. You say…they don’t deserve it! Neither do we deserve the forgiveness of God, but He does so out of His love for us, and He has given us the power to forgive any person who has hurt or offended us. When we forgive others…we will be amazed at the amazing freedom and joy that floods our heart and soul, because we have done that which is pleasing to our Lord.
