I’ve heard it said or read somewhere that we can get a good view of our walk with God based how much we hate sin and evil. It can be a fine line, but I know I’m guilty of hating the sinner sometimes more than the sin. That’s not good nor right.
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate.” –Proverbs 8:13.
You might think that this is God speaking. Well, in a way it is, however, in this case it is wisdom personified that is speaking. True wisdom then is to hate evil, pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverted mouth. Notice that it doesn’t say anything about hating the person committing these sins. When we hate sin but love the sinner, then we love like God loves.
Now that I have a son of my own, I understand this. Though he is only a year old, I already know that when he does something wrong, I will not hate him, but I will hate the wrong he has done. That’s how God sees us. He hates that sin is in the world, but He loves us to the point that it cost Him everything to free us from the bondage of sin.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” –John 3:16.
God sacrificed His only Son to free me (and the whole world) from eternal damnation. God doesn’t hate you and doesn’t hate me. He loves us. The Creator of the universe loves us! Do we really get that? I’m not sure we can fully comprehend that. God loves you so much that He died for you in the most painful and humiliating way just to show you how much He loves you and me.
May you experience His love for you today.
May He Increase!
Print out a hard copy of this to give your child. You have already given the greatest gift, a Godly parent. Congratulations!
Wow. You know, I never thought of it that way. Thank you, Willoh for your kind words. I just might take you up on your suggestion!
Have a great weekend.
Joe.
Just a thought Joe…………..God said that He loved Jacob but hated Esau. Whats up with that?
When God said He loved Jacob, He was speaking in terms of choosing Israel over the Edomites (Jacob over Esau). The Bible shows that Esau was a blessed man–he was the firstborn–but God did not choose to fulfill His covenant through Him.
Hate is perhaps a misunderstood term in our English usage. The sense is that God merely chose Jacob over Esau, but not necessarily that God cursed Esau out of hatred.
Does that help?