SCRIPTURE: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Hebrews 12:15.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A hater is someone who withholds favour, opportunity or good things from their victims.

Our anchor Scripture reveals that it is possible for the root of bitterness to spring up in a person. This was the root that sprang up in Cain, leading him to kill his brother, Abel.

In our study today, we would like to answer the question, “Who is a hater?”

First, a hater is someone who withholds favour, opportunity, or good things from their victims. They know something would benefit the person, yet they withhold it from them. In fact, haters deny their victims any access to what might bring them good.

Second, a hater is one who assigns minimal worth or value to a person. No matter how much value others see in someone, a hater considers them insignificant. This is toxic hate.

Third, haters are generous in condemnation but sparing in commendation. They find so much to criticize but very little or nothing to commend.

Beloved, having examined the characteristics of haters above, I would like to ask you: Are you a hater or a lover of people? Do you withhold favour, opportunities, and good things from people because of personal dislike? Has God prompted you to help someone, but you refused because of personal bias? Do you devalue others or assign them minimal or no worth? Do you focus on condemnation rather than commendation?

As you reflect on these questions today, if you notice any of these tendencies within you, go to God in prayer and ask Him to cleanse your heart. Ask Him to give you, His kind of heart.
May the grace to love like God be released upon you in Jesus’ Name.

Remember this: A hater is someone who withholds favour, opportunity or good things from their victims.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Honestly ask yourself this question, “Who Am I? Am I a lover or a hater?”
2. Refuse to be a hater. Convince yourself to believe that you have been saved to love others, and not to hate them.

PRAYER: Father, I refuse the identity of a hater. I receive the grace to represent You to my world by releasing love, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: TOXIC HATE (PART 3).

QUOTE: What you uproot from someone else’s life out of hatred, jealousy or envy cannot be rooted in your life. Culled from the book, “21 FOOLISH THINGS PEOPLE DO” by Dr Paul Enenche.

DAILY READING: Hebrews 12-James 1

AMAZING FACT: A lion’s roar is an essential part of its territory-marking behavior.

PROPHETIC WORD (DECLARATION): The love of knowledge through the Holy Spirit flow through your heart to others like never before, in Jesus’ Name.