Sunday, March 28, 1999 This Week's Lesson:
In this week's lesson, which came from Proverbs 6:16-19, we learned more about the Lord by learning more about some of His dislikes. According to this passage, God hates six specific human behaviors. He hates a proud look. Proverbs 16:18-19 says, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud." He hates a lying tongue. Proverbs 12:22 says, "Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight." He hates hands that shed innocent blood. He hates the heart that devises wickedness. He hates the heart that pursues mischief. He hates a false witness, and He hates Christians who cause trouble for other Christians. Psalms 34:13-16 says, "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth."
Hate comes from the Hebrew word meaning to hate, to be hateful, to hate of man, or to be an enemy. Abomination comes from the Hebrew word meaning a disgusting or abominable thing. As those who would follow Christ, it is important for us to understand that He does not hate the person, not even that individual who commits horrible sins. Instead, He loves the person and hates their ungodly actions. In these verses, Solomon actually identified seven behaviors, but he said that one of them was only an abomination. Because God wants us to live right, we should, as much as is in us, try to do those things that are good and proper and not offend Him in any way. However, on our own, we are not able to accomplish that objective. The Bible teaches that all are guilty of misbehaving and sinning. Each of us has come up short when compared to God's heavenly standard. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Therefore, our goal should be to clean up our act, and we can do that by coming to Him. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." When we turn to Jesus in faith, accept Him as our personal Savior, and put our trust in His finished work at Calvary, God indwells us with His Holy Spirit, and we become His. Then, He can begin to chip away at all those rough spots in our life so that we can learn to live a life that is pleasing to Him. Romans 10:13 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
The problem is simple. All of us are sinners, and God hates our sins. But the solution is also simple. We can turn from our passion for sin, receive forgiveness from Him, and then have newness of life through Him. As you go through the coming week, seek the Lord with all your heart, do your best to live for Him, and try to be the person He would you be.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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