Hello 1nebody,

Welcome to the last week of January! Can you believe that?! The first month of 2025 is almost over and we are still here! I don’t know how the 1st month of 2025 has been for you but this alone is enough to break out in thanksgiving to our God. We thank you, Lord, for your mercy endures forever!

So, what is the point of deliberation today? You can already tell from the title. A little backstory before we go further. I was reading the YouVersion devotional last week and the scripture Matthew 5:43-44 came up.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

Darasimi Oyor of the Mount Zion Film Ministry was taking the verse of the day and she said something that struck me. She answered the frequently asked question, ‘Why does God love us?’ She said, “God does not love because we are good or anything like that, He loves us because He is love.” It is in God’s nature to love, engrained in His DNA as we’d say.

Then it hit me, there is no hatred in God because love is simply the opposite of hatred and it is impossible for love to hate. Just as you would ask why fire hurts, it is in the nature of fire to burn. Similar way, it is not possible for God to hate because it is in His nature to love. I don’t think there’s anywhere in the Bible where God expressly says he hates someone (please put in the comment section if I am wrong). God hates sin but He doesn’t hate people.

I know you are probably thinking, but he punishes the wicked which in the human terminology may translate to hatred. However, punishments are what I’ve come to understand as residues of God’s love. When you obey God, you will get the residues of His love. These are things we translate as what you like, something favourable. Similarly, when you disobey Him, you still get residues of His love; correction, warning, pruning. These are things that are unfavourable to you which the human sense may translate to ‘God hates me’. Just as fire hurts in its very nature the residues of fire, heat, can keep you warm if you use the right amount and are in the right proximity to the fire. Similarly, the same residue of fire, and heat, can also cause you to hyperventilate and can be unfavourable to your body. It is the same way with God, either way, everything He does for us is out of His abundant love because that is His nature.

I saw a short post recently from Pastor Poju elaborating on Psalm 99:8 which I believe will further help put this topic in perspective. I can’t the post again but I will paraphrase. The natural understanding is that God is a forgiving God, yet, He punishes people. Pastor Poju made it clear that God does not punish people, He forgives people but punishes their misdeeds as it says in this verse. It is the act that God frowns upon, not the people.

Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.”

I invite you to come to that love of God today. Please say the prayer below if you have made the decision to follow and make this God your Lord and Saviour.

Dear Jesus, I accept you today as my Lord and personal saviour. I confess that I have sinned, please forgive me. By your blood, cleanse me from every unrighteousness. Thank you for the new life you have given me, help me to serve you all the days of my life. Ultimately, please help me make it to eternity with you, in Jesus name.

Congratulations, heaven rejoices over you! If you said this prayer and would like additional information/guidance, please send an email to 1nebodyblog@gmail.com.

God bless,

Dasola