“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pour out lies, and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” (Prov. 6:16-19)

I don’t have much to add to this, other than it’s good to know what God detests so we can make sure to avoid doing or being those things!

If I were to put these seven things in my own simplified terms, it would look something like this:

1. Haughty Eyes = Prideful / Arrogant
2. Lying Tongue = Liar / Cheater
3. Hands that shed innocent blood = Murder / Hatred of another
4. A heart that devises wicked schemes = Scammer / Conspirator
5. Feet that are quick to rush into evil = Delights in sinful activity / Drawn to perversion
6. A false witness who pour out lies = Gossiper / Deceiver / Traitor
7. A man who stirs up dissension = Provoker / Instigator / Troublemaker

I’m sure there are many other ways to describe these, but it helps me to think about what they may look like in the types of situations we face today. In doing so, the scary part is that a lot of these sins are ones that still rear their ugly heads in Christian circles and churches around the world today. God hates them because they are not only sin and dishonor Him, but they destroy Christian testimony, relationships, communities, and lives.

We may think that a “Top Ten” type list of things that God hates would be extreme scenarios, but when you look at them, they’re more commonplace than you would suspect. I am almost certain that each of us have run into most, if not all, of these from people who claim to be followers or disciples of Christ in the past year alone, whether it’s ourselves or others who are guilty of the crime. It makes me sad to even admit that.

That’s the whole point of biblical instruction though. We can’t stop learning about what grieves God. We can’t stop seeking out the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin. We can’t stop identifying our shortcomings and repenting of them. We can’t stop building our godly wisdom, that we may truly offer our entire lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Rom. 12:1).

We’ll never be perfect, but THANK GOD that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for our sin! We strive to be better and to live upright, not because we can EVER justify ourselves before a holy God, but out of our love for Him. Jesus paid the price on the cross, and His gift of grace exchanged our sinfulness with His righteousness! Thank you Jesus!

Lord, give us the desire to continually learn more about You through your Word. Convict us by your Spirit, that we may live lives that are honoring and pleasing to You. Forgive us for our sins, as we undoubtedly will fall; and help us turn from anything that You hate and detest. Thank you for your love, grace, and mercy that we don’t deserve and can never earn, and most of all, thank you for the sacrifice of Your precious Son. Amen!

[From December 6, 2018]