What God Hates and What God Loves

When you get to know someone and become friends with them, and then for some, make a lifelong commitment and actually get married, you want to think about what they like and don’t like.  If people are going to get along well together there will need to be some adjustments so each one is avoiding those things the friend or partner hates and embracing what they love. 

It might be as simple as a particular vegetable we do or don’t put on the plate, a tv show or type of movie give up watching because it makes the other person uncomfortable.

Well, as we become friends with God and seek to share our lives with Him, it’s not a bad idea to find out what God hates and what God loves.

In the book of Proverbs in the Bible, there is much wisdom and today we find a list of practices that are clearly NOT God’s will.

There are six things the Lord hates. In fact, he hates seven things.  The Lord hates proud eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that kill those who aren’t guilty.  He also hates hearts that make evil plans and feet that are quick to do evil.  He hates any witness who pours out lies and anyone who stirs up conflict in the community. Proverbs 6:16-19

We have all sorts of excuses for lying and for angrily confronting or accusing someone of their wrongdoing.  It is easy for us to be a bit shifty and underhanded in how we approach a person in authority or someone from whom we want some favour.  How often have we stirred up trouble by being stubborn or demanding our own way? 

Instead of acting in these ways, God calls us to be those who love and lift others up, and with all that we are, to encourage them.

Heavenly Father, it’s so easy for us to fall into some of these attitudes and practices that You hate.  Please forgive us.  You are love and You call us to love.  Help us today to be loving as these familiar words remind us: 

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Help us to establish new patterns of thinking and behaving regardless of what others may think.  Help us to endure through every circumstance.  Your love is unfailing, and You are and will always be our friend who sticks close to us.  Thank you. Amen

So, what are we doing that God hates that we need to stop doing?  And what are we doing that God loves that we need to even more fully embrace.  What a great day will result if we hate what God hates and love what God loves.