Does the Bible Teach Us to Hate Anything?

Hatred of any kind is a very sensitive topic in our world today. Social unrest and racial tension almost everywhere we look. The Word of God however teaches that to love God and our fellow man (Matthew 22:37-39) is the “great commandment”. Despite this instruction, the Bible does teach us that there are some things that Believers should hate! My personal favorite is Psalm 101:2-3. “I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”

So according to the inspired words of King David, we should hate the work of them that turn aside. Not those that turn aside, but the work. “Turn aside” is a reference to anything that distracts our attention from serving God. Remember Christian, we are called to hate the sin and love the sinner! Let’s focus on defeating the work that draws people away from the truth of the Gospel. Where does this campaign begin? David said in the same passage it begins right at home. “I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:” Do you want to defeat the works that hinder the cause of Christ? - Christian, it begins at home!

MOST OVERLOOKED VERSE IN THE BIBLE?

If you ask a Christian what their favorite verse in the Gospel of John is, most of the time the response is: John 3:16. My favorite however, may be one of the most overlooked verses in the Bible: John 3:21. “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
           I love this verse because it gives insight into one of the many ways that God draws people to Himself. In this instance, the Apostle John shared that in Christ’s conversation with Nicodemus that a person that lives out the truth of the Scriptures will eventually come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Why is that so crucial? Because that is exactly what was taking place in the life of Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee or a student of the Law and his life gave evidence that he was trying to live out the what he had studied. After all it was Nicodemus who called out the injustice of his fellow Pharisees in John Chapter 7 and would one day assist with the burial of Jesus after he was crucified.
          Do you know someone that is such a “good person” and you want them to trust Christ? Your evangelistic efforts seem to have fallen on deaf ears? Be encouraged! They that do the truth will come to the light. It’s God’s promise! Keep praying and one day, God willing you will see it happen.

How long has it been? #TuesdayThoughts #Luke24v32 #ReadHeedLead #GodsWord 📖

#FaithFriday Could it be that the secret things that we don’t understand are in reality our Creator drawing our attention to Him? #Selah #Deutronomy29:29 📖

THEY SHALL SPEND THEIR DAYS IN PROSPERITY, AND THEIR YEARS IN PLEASURES

I was especially blessed this morning as my daily Bible reading brought me to and old favorite, Job 36:8-11: “And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.”

The reason I was so blessed as I read this passage was (believe it or not) because it reminded me of one of the really low points in my life. Yes; you read it correctly, a low point. That’s because as I read those precious words, I knew God was promising me that after all the tragedy that I had been through, if I truly repented and started living for Him, he would restore the life to me that I had destroyed. But the best feeling of all is now after looking back now over the 30 years since I first read those words and realizing God came through on every word of His promise. Oh the love of God!

The Love of God

"Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky."

OUR EVERY DAY PRAYER

I like taking a simple approach to life. One page instructions, coffee with one Splenda, you know. . . I was actually disappointed when Twitter allowed more than 140 characters! That’s one of the reasons why my favorite verse in Exodus is Moses’ prayer found in chapter 33 and verse 13. “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight:” It doesn’t get any simpler than that! Oh God give us the grace to make our every day prayer “Lord show me Your way so I can know you more completely.” Read, Heed and Lead!

YOUR GREATEST CALLING

I love the story of Joseph and his brothers! The Coat of Many Colors, the interpretation of dreams, “what you meant for evil, God meant for good”. . . I could go on. All of it is the kind of romantic stuff that novels are based on. But of all those amazing tales, the one that is my favorite, is the exchange between Judah and Joseph when Judah is faced with the possibility of returning to his father without his youngest brother Benjamin. The passage is found in Genesis 44:18-34. As Judah makes his case to Joseph that he cannot return without his brother; because it would simply be more than his father Israel could take, he makes this statement in verse 34: “For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? That statement has been burned in my memory for years.

Why so impactful you might say? Well, Bible Scholars agree that Joseph is a type of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. When I look at this passage from that perspective, I see myself (and each one of us for that matter) overwhelmed with the possibility of facing our Heavenly Father without the knowledge that our brother, children or other family members or friends are returning with us.

The account of Judah’s discussion with Joseph reminds me of the story of NBA great Pete Maravich. Pete came to Christ late in life, but during that time he was able to lead his father Press to Christ. In recognition of what that experience meant to his father; on his deathbed, Press spoke these words to his son Pete: “I want to tell you, be there. On resurrection morning, be there. I will be looking for you then. Nothing else matters. Be there.” Turns out Pete would follow his father to glory only a few short years later, dying from the complications of an enlarged heart, but his Dad was there with him.

Do you have a brother that you are not sure will join you with the Heavenly Father one day? Are you a parent tasked with the responsibility of introducing your children to Jesus? Whatever your station in life, no matter your situation YOUR GREATEST CALLING is to ensure your children, family and friends will “be there”. Let’s pray together that God will use each of us to that end!

THE URGENCY OF PRAYER

How important is it for us to pray? On my blog banner I quote James 5:16 “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Does it really? Elijah prayed that it wouldn’t rain and his request was honored for three years! But how much of that was Elijah’s prayer and how much of that was God’s sovereignty? Is there a passage in the Bible that provides some insight into the relationship between our prayer life and God’s will? My favorite scripture on this topic is from Genesis chapter 20. Remember the story? Abimelech had taken Abraham’s wife Sarah intending to marry her because he thought she was Abraham’s sister. God appears to Abimelech in a dream; and in doing so, gives us a glimpse into the relationship between believer’s prayer and God’s answers to prayer. God said to Abimelech:

“And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.”  Genesis 20:6-7

The point is that God knew Abraham would pray for Abimelech to live, but would not act and allow him to live until that occurred. How do we know that? Listen to what verse 17 of chapter 20 says:

“So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.” Genesis 20:17

God knew Abraham would pray, but did not initiate His sovereign will, until Abraham prayed.

What are you praying about? What have you given up praying about? Are you delaying answers to prayer because of your failure to pray? The Prophet Samuel said it is actually a sin for believers to not pray:

“God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you:” 1 Samuel 12:23

Is prayer important? Is there some urgency to pray for Christians? You decide.

THE INHERENCY OF GOD’S WORD

If you have ever read Genesis 18:17-18 and then scratched your head, join the group! If not, here is the passage I’m referencing:

“And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?” Genesis 18:17-18 KJV

This is commonly believed to be a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ to Abraham. The problem is, the Lord asked this critical question, but then the question is not answered and the text moves on to describe the faithfulness of Abraham. THE QUESTION IS NEVER ANSWERED! That always bothered me. Why was it there? God’s Word is perfect right? It just didn’t make any sense.

Then one day I was reading the book of John and I came across the passage in chapter 8 where Christ was having a back and forth with the Pharisees about who He was. Then Jesus makes this statement:

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” John 8:56 KJV

THERE IT IS! The answer to the question asked in Genesis 18 is answered by incarnate Christ! Not only validating the inherency of God’s Word, but further confirming the fact that from Genesis to Revelation the Bible is one work designed to reveal the magnificent plan of salvation to man.

The discovery of the connection of these two passages has been a game changer for me. I can only respond by echoing the words of Job in chapter 5:

“I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:” Job 5:8-9 KJV

I rang in the New Year for 2020 on the couch with a stomach virus. It was so severe even my dog Dixie came down with it! This episode was a staunch reminder of the delicate balance between physical health and sickness. Our bodies like the universe around us are held in beautiful orchestration by our Savior. As the Apostle Paul wrote: “and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” Let’s begin the new decade echoing the thoughts of King David in Psalm 139: 14-17.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in thy book all my members were written,
which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!

SELAH