"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

If we sincerely desire to know the Lord, pressing on to know him (Hosea 6:3), we will learn that God is love (1 John  4:16). When the Holy Spirit controls our heart, love will be evident in our attitudes and actions.

Galatians 5:19-21 lists demons Jesus orders to flee--including hostility, quarreling, outbursts of anger, dissension, and division--all manifestations of hatred. Verses 22 and 23 list the heavenly habits of the heart--the first one being sacrificial love, and inclding peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness--characterizing people who live in Grace Highlands.

The great love chapter of the Bible (1 Corinthians 13) prescribes love as the antidote to the poisons of pride, irritation, rudeness, jealousy, arrogance, selfishness, resentment, doubt, despair, disenchantment, discouragement, disillusionment, and childishness.

Hate breeds hate. Violence fuels violence. Revenge perpetuates revenge. Anger intensifies anger. Dr. King was right--only light can drive out darkness; only love can drive out hate.

"God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9 NLT)

Read other devotional thoughts by Pastor Almond on his blog at http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/