Day 44 - 90 Days in Proverbs – Hatred of Evil

Proverbs 8:13 [ESV] The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

There is a lot of evil in the world today, isn’t there, sisters? So, for those of us who fear the LORD, there is a lot to hate. Slavery still exists. Abusive dictators still rule some countries. There is abortion and child abuse, rape and drug dealing. This is just a start on the list. We must pray for this would around us – for those trapped and abused by evil, as well as the perpetrators. We must do what we can to relieve suffering, whether that is financial support, volunteering at a soup kitchen, donating goods or any other means.

But when we look for evil to hate, we must not just look at the world around us. We must also look within, for sin that lies within us. Is there any pride or arrogance, of inappropriate words? Do we harbor the way of the evil like jealousy or a longing for revenge? Or maybe the thing that trips me up isn’t listed in this Proverbs 8:13 but is some other sin – some other evil.

The point is that we cannot just point a finger at the world, we must point it within. We cannot just hate evil in the world, we have to hate the sin that so easily trips us up. And we must get rid of it. Hebrews 12:1 [NIV] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. An effort to rid myself of sin is going to be a lot more effective than trying to rid this Satan-led world of it.

We must be careful that the evil in the world doesn’t lure us into letting it into our own lives, thoughts and behaviors. The way to prevent ourselves from being lured into sin is to fill our internal being, our minds and hearts, with good so that there is no place left or evil to take hold. Romans 12:2 [KJV] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. However, time spent with God doesn’t just fill our minds, it transforms them.

So, sweet sisters, we must look for the evil, bad, wrong or sin within us. We must spend time with God, so that we come to hate evil within, just as we hate the evil we see in the world. Then, we push it out by filling ourselves, our minds, heart and lives, with the good and the perfect will of God instead.

Prayer — Father God, I know You hate evil. I have come to hate it too. I long for Jesus to return to put an end to the evil in this world and to usher in a time when peace and love rule the world instead. Help me to leave no place for evil in me either. Help me to hate the sin that trips me up – the evil that seeks to take hold in my heart, mind, words or life – and to push it out by filling my life with You, Your thoughts and words, and the deeds of love You would have me to do. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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