This morning I keep thinking or having brought to mind this Scripture: Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14. In looking up the phrase seek peace was the reference above and also from 1 Peter 3:10-12: Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (Psalm 34:12-16).

This morning, also, reading 3 John 11: Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

This morning in prayer God told me there is no love in evil. How true that is. I see the evil in this world and there is no love there. Yet, we all long for love. We won’t find it clinging to the world’s love of deceitful speech. Deceitful speech paves the way for wars, for hate for others, for selfish gain. How empty that way is, how desolate.

Jesus left us an example that could only be left by Him. He did it out of great love for us. That is where love is. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9) When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:11-12;21-25.

There is a stark difference between love and hate; good and evil. Jesus came to this earth to show us in real time that difference. He loved. He showed mercy. He healed. He did it all while teaching those who would listen and embrace that truth. He fulfilled His purpose and bore our sins on His cross even to death and overcame death by rising again. The world then went on as it does today and our sins abound and we have to ask ourselves if we want to live that desolate life of emptiness apart from God who loves – or if we want to ask Him to show us a better way with Him who is love and truth. I always marvel when people think – as I used to – that they would have to give up a lot to follow Jesus; that their life would suffer a loss and wouldn’t be as much fun. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:10-11.

Have you had enough of all the love of deceitful speech; of hate? Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Ask Him to show you how. He’s there.