Bitter people will always have something negative to say. Over the years, I’ve learned that haters operate from a root of bitterness and unless they surrender it to God negativity will always contaminate their perspective and encumber their judgment. As Christians, we are called to live in ways the world simply don’t understand. Jesus warned us that we would be hated. But he tells us to stand firm and do nothing in terms of getting even. Luke 21:19 even goes as far as saying that we will win life. Some of y’all reading this message is saying, “That’s not wining” and “I can’t do this!” I will say, standing firm is not for the faint at heart! Steko is the Greek word for ‘standing firm’ and it means to persevere and persist. Notice Jesus didn’t instruct us to retaliate, He instructed us to pray and bless our haters ( 1 Peter 3:9). Again, some may be thinking that’s easier said than done!! I understand fostering this disposition can be unpopular and extremely challenging because it’s instantly gratifying to fight back, clap back, or say the perfect comeback when someone viscously and arbitrarily attacks you. Simply put, nothing good comes from getting even or paybacks; “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”. In Matthew 5, Jesus teaches us that we are to love even our enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” So the real question is,”Do you want to be sons and daughters of God?” At the end of the day, it’s not our job to change people but it’s our duty to love people in spite of their unwarranted, unnecessary, and unruly behavior. Hate will always produce more hate but when hate engages with love—love always win!!