no. 6 | dislike 👎🏼

This is a part of the Command blog series where we’re talking about how the Ten Commandments aren’t just a dusty set of tablets with dumb rules . . . by a long shot!

P.S. Don’t forget to read our newly released, FREE devotional “Still”!

We all thought we’d be good on the “Thou shalt not murder” command, right? But Jesus takes this a step farther in Matthew 5:21-26:

I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment [it doesn’t matter he didn’t act on this anger]; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 

And in 1 John 3:15, we get an even clearer picture of what murder could look like:

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Whoa!! This. Changes. Everything.

Think about the commands we’ve gone over. Worshiping other gods, not honoring our parents, not keeping the Sabbath. If we even think about choosing something over god; if we even consider talking about our parents behind their backs; if we even consider choosing ourselves over the Sabbath, we’re commiting that action.

So often, we like to pat ourselves on the back amiright? I can’t tell you how many times I’m like “Good job, Amanda, you didn’t lie” . . . when, in reality, I stretched the truth or left out some details.

Jesus doesn’t define sins like we are prone to do.

There’s not a checklist.

We hear murder; we think of the taking of the life of an innocent person. Jesus thinks about wicked people “simply” hating people.

We hear adultery, we think of skanky people cheating on each other. Jesus thinks of people lusting over other people in their minds and thinking they’re safe.

That thing about hating (or even disliking) . . .

You’re scrolling through your Instagram feed and there she is. Another picture of her in some French coffee shop. Her hair looks so perfect. She’s living the dream. Your stomach turns over; you REALLY don’t like her. 👎🏼

She comes around the corner. Oh my goodness, hide, hide, hide!! You dart behind a pole. There’s no way you want to have a conversation with someone that dorky. You really dislike her. 👎🏼

Oh goodie, another picture of someone’s engagement ring. Needed another one of those in your feed. You really dislike all those elated brides-to-be. 👎🏼

Her family wronged your family really badly and never even apologized. Things are still awkward between all of you, but you can’t believe their daughter has to go to your school. You see her in the halls all the time and can’t help but seethe. You aren’t afraid to think it: you hate her. 👎🏼

We’ve all been there. We’ve all entertained negative thoughts about someone else, whether we felt justified or not. There’s just something so soul-rotting about disliking someone else, though. It’s so easy, but it so quickly takes over.

We have to take a step back and really get honest with ourselves. My Bible Doctrines teacher forever changed my perspective when he challenged us to leave the class and, when we saw people, think about how we’re literally looking at the soul of an image-bearer whom God loves deeply.

It’s sickening to think we could hate, or even dislike, someone our holy God made.

So, let’s challenge ourselves to see souls instead of our selfishness. Easier said than done, I know . . . but oh so worth it!

PREVIOUS POSTS

• No. 1: I am an idol worshiper
• No. 2: Worshiping what I’ve done
• No. 3: 3 ways we take God’s name in vain
• No. 4: What you need to know about the Sabbath (this one has turned out to be quite controversial . . . we have some good discussion going on!)
• No. 5: Why honoring your parents is more than putting your laundry away