Hey y'all. I'm so glad that the title didn't scare you away LOL. I am just the messenger, so please take any offenses up with God. I know I have!
While I was studying today, God came for my life. Here's how the conversation went:
God: Do you hate sin?
Me: Ummm. I don't know, God. How am I supposed to hate sin?
God: You hate people...
Me: Excuse me, God. "Hate" is a strong word. I dislike certain people, but definitely not hate.
God: Look up the definition of "hate."
Me: ***braces myself to find out that I actually do hate people***
Merriam Webster's Dictionary: extreme dislike or disgust
Dictionary.com: to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest:
Blue Letter Bible (from the Hebrew 'satam'): to hate, oppose oneself to, bear a grudge, retain animosity against, cherish animosity against
Me: Okay, God. Maybe I do hate some people.
God: Do you hate sin?
Me: Nope!
Now, I can't tell you how to answer that question. It's between you and God, but I can definitely encourage you and say that all is not lost. God is merciful and loving and he gives grace. I believe that it's in His love that He revealed these hard truths: 1) I hate people, even though He commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves [Mark 12:31] 2) I don't hate sin (even though the fear of the Lord is to hate evil [Proverbs 8:13]). What do I do now?
Let's take a step back and look at what we know about "hate." When we hate something or someone, it might cause us to do some crazy things. For example, I know people that hate certain foods so much that they gag at the sight and/or smell of that food. And if hatred is toward a person that typically means that we treat them poorly (eg. ignore them, talk negatively about them, sabotage them, etc). In the Bible, Joseph's brothers knew they had done him wrong. So when their father died, they sent a fake message to Joseph so that they wouldn't feel the wrath of his hatred toward them [he didn't even hate them though] (Genesis 50:15-17). Esau intended to kill his brother Jacob because he hated him. And because of this threat, Jacob had to leave his home (Genesis 27:41-45). If we could show this same negative energy to sin, it would have to flee, just like Jacob did. I believe that God is trying to get at two issues at the same time. Let's stop hating people and take that energy to start hating sin!
How do we hate sin? I'm so glad you asked because God gave me a nice little acronym to help us all out: H.A.T.E.
H - Heart Check. This work has to start from within. We won't just start hating sin out of nowhere. One of my favorite scriptures is in Psalm 139, where David says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting." I love it because it's a surrender to Christ, but you've got to be prepared for what God is going to show you. A lot of times, it's not pretty, but He'll work through anything with you. And that's why the next step is to...
A - ASK God for Advice. It's too often that we go to people before we go to God and His Word. If He's the one revealing our hearts to us, He probably (definitely) has an answer. The Word of God says, "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6 NLT)" If that ain't a whole word in two verses! The point is that God will give you direction if you just ask. People can be a good resource, but they shouldn't be your FIRST. Now when your heart has been checked and you've asked the Father for advice, you've got to....
T - Turn (Repent). This is the part where we need to DO something. It's not enough to only take the first two steps. When God answers us, we need to be obedient to His voice (EVEN IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO). Repentance is not just an expression of regret or remorse; it's not an apology. I know that I don't like empty apologies from people; I want them to show me that they're sorry. God is requiring the same of each of us: we need to show Him that we are sorry by being obedient to His instructions. One of the origins of the word "repent" in the Greek is "metanoeō," which means to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins (Blue Letter Bible, Strong's G3340). I want to draw your attention to some key words in the second half of this definition. Heartily means "with all sincerity: wholeheartedly." Abhor means "to regard with extreme repugnance: to feel hatred or loathing for." So we need to decide with our whole hearts to change our minds for the better and that involves extreme disgust and HATRED toward past sins. And if they're in the past that means they aren't a part of who we are any longer. So stop letting the enemy convince that your PAST sins define who you are. You've got to put some...
E - Enmity between you and your sins (and the devil). What exactly does that mean? According to Dictionary.com, it's a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism. So basically, this is the part where you treat sin and the devil like those people that you don't talk to because they did you wrong or the ones who you talk about negatively to others. Give that energy to the only one who truly deserves it: the devil. Just like we talked about earlier, people won't want to sit around while hate is being spewed at them. Tell me: how long have you stayed friends with people when y'all are going back and forth antagonizing each other, being mean, and showing hate? Not long, right? Then how about we treat the devil like those friends and we cut him off? There's no reason to keep that toxicity around.
Y'all that's it. I mean it's actually a lot of work, but God broke it down nicely for us right here. I hope this is helpful for you; I know it's definitely helpful for me. Remember that you are GRACED and God loves you so much <3
April 7, 2020
