Title: God Abhors Hatred.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

1 John 4:20 KJV.

Devotion: The apostle John speaks with piercing clarity: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20). These words strip away any illusion that love for God can coexist with hatred toward others. Scripture leaves no room for compromise—hatred is not a minor flaw, it is a direct contradiction of God’s very nature.

   Hatred often disguises itself in subtle forms. It does not always roar like violence or blaze like war; more often, it whispers in the quiet corners of the heart. It begins as resentment, takes root in unforgiveness, and grows through self-righteousness. It shows itself in the refusal to forgive, in the contempt we harbor for those who differ from us, or in the secret satisfaction we feel when someone we dislike stumbles. These small sparks, left unchecked, become consuming fires.

  God abhors hatred because He is love (1 John 4:8). To despise another human being—crafted in His image—is to reject the One who made them. We cannot hold the grace of the Cross in one hand while clutching bitterness in the other. Christ did not die for us when we were righteous; He gave Himself while we were still hostile, still distant, still undeserving. If we have been forgiven an infinite debt, how can we justify withholding love from others?

   Hatred corrodes the soul of the one who carries it long before it wounds its target. Bitterness blinds us, distorts our vision, and robs us of peace. Love, however, heals. Love releases. Love chooses forgiveness even when pride resists. To love God is to love those He has placed around us, for true devotion cannot be separated from compassion.

Prayer: Lord, search my heart today. Expose the hidden places where resentment lingers and contempt quietly grows. Forgive me for the times I have clung to anger instead of extending the grace You poured out on me. Teach me to forgive as You forgive, to love as You love, and to reflect Your compassion even toward those who are difficult to embrace. Fill me with Your Spirit, that my life may shine with Your peace. Amen.

Share your thoughts here and help someone to overcome hatred, share this with your contacts. ©Dr. Joel Olanrewaju, gbemide09@gmail.com.