TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him. (Proverbs 6:16 ESV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• There’s a game circulating on Facebook where you’re encouraged to share 10 things you don’t like that everyone else seems to love. I don’t usually play these kinds of games, but the other night—I caved. My dislikes were swimming pools, butterflies, iced tea, okra, insta-pots, snow, driving fast, ketchup, makeup, and I lumped Brad Pitt, Leonardo di Caprio, and George Clooney together as overrated actors. It’s a silly game, but it has provided some interesting insight to some of my Facebook friends.
As I’ve thought about this, God gave us a similar list. In Proverbs 6:16-19, His list says, “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
Yet, our world embraces these things. Let’s flip forward to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. It says, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” All of these things (and more!) can be categorized within the scope of the list in Proverbs. Yet, we’ve compromised. In our zeal to “love the sinner,” we’ve compromised to the point that we’ve tolerated and even accepted sin.
This is such a difficult topic, and frankly, I don’t like writing about it because there’s a fine line to walk. I don’t want to offend people nor do I want anyone to think I’m judgmental. But these aren’t my words; they are God’s. Straight from His Holy Word which is timeless (Isaiah 40:8) and designed to teach us (2 Timothy 3:16)! And we either take Him at His Word completely… or not at all.
What I know with certainty is my sins are mine just as your sins are yours. My sins are not better or worse and neither are yours. God sees sin as sin as sin… James 2:10 says, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” And since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), we are all sinners. So, we may not all sin the same, but the thing we have in common is our need for forgiveness.
This week, we remember Jesus’ last week before His betrayal and crucifixion. Every step He took during this week 2000-some years ago carried Him closer to the cross… The cross where every single sin that has ever been devised was nailed to wooden beams along with Jesus’ bloodied and beaten body. After all He went through to save us, how dare we try to rewrite the rules and compromise God’s holy standard. We simply don’t have the authority to decide.
So today, as you think of your own list of things you do and things you accept, I challenge you to compare it to God’s. Does your list honor Him? Or does it grieve Him? Are you more interested in upholding what the world calls acceptable? Or living according to what God calls acceptable?
Friends, it’s not easy. You will be rejected, and even ridiculed by people you love. But we’re given one life. And God, in His incredible love for us, gives us the choice to make on how we’ll live this life He gives. And He will honor our choices. When we give our lives to Christ, we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). But that does not mean we are aren’t still accountable for our actions and choices. Let’s make sure we align them with God’s Word and His Will.
Today, as you pray, thank God for His Holy Word and His Holy Standard. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you live by God’s Word and not the worlds. If there is unresolved sin in your life, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it and convict your heart. Ask Him to help you leave sin nailed to the cross and embrace the forgiveness that Jesus offered when He died for you and me.
SHARING ••• Please share with others! Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Download a free Bible-In-A-Year Reading Plan when you subscribe! Join an online prayer group at www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandonourkneesprayergroup. ***Unless noted otherwise, all Scripture references are from the ESV translation.
