I am always moved when I hear my two children say those magic words, “I love you daddy!” I say they are magical because no matter how terrible my day would have been, no matter how downcast I may be, those words always change me. The situation may not change, but my outlook and resolve always do! Those words always open up wells of joy and awaken the victor in me.

Curious mind that I have, I usually wonder if they know what they would be saying. And as if they are professional mind readers, they prove it with a big warm hug that oozes with love. “How do young children like these know to love?” This always used to baffle me until one day it dawned on me….

1 John 4:8
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

“God is love….” Young as they are, they understand love because they carry a part of God, we all do! We are created in His image and I believe the greatest part of Himself that He deposits in us is His love.

It’s unfortunate that this God part of us called love sometimes gets destroyed by the things we go through in life. Instead of love, we allow bitterness and hatred to prevail. And I have noticed that this happens in a subtle way! Our hearts are hardened as we try to defend them! We are all emotionally vulnerable, and if we are not careful, in defending ourselves, we make things worse. We end up hardening our hearts. We end up losing the most important deposit God placed in us, His love.

Matthew 5:44
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

I know this is a tough pill to swallow but it works! You can never fight evil with evil. If you do, you would have become just like them. When you love your enemies, you become the bigger person; you emerge victorious.

Proverbs 25:21 – 22
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
And the Lord will reward you.

The best revenge you can dish out on your enemies is love! And after revenging, God will reward you, why? Because you would have shown Him and His love to the world.

The choice is always ours; to love or to hate. History has proven it over and over again, hatred is not progressive neither is it profitable. Do not harden your heart, allow God’s love to flow through you. Don’t harbour bitterness, it will spread and everything in your life will become bitter! Love really does make the world go round, only problem is, it’s in short supply!

Choose love all the time!

Kato Nkhoma is a seasoned Pastor with circa 15 years under his belt. He is also a prolific teacher of the word, author and freelance writer. A husband to 1wife  and father of 2 amazing children makes him a happy family man.

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