LifeLink Devotions for Monday, February 17, 2025

Have you seen the text on the endlines of the NFL endzones that reads “STOP HATE”? While that sounds good and admirable when applied to certain situations, it is not feasible or Biblical to stop all hate. Stopping all hate requires us to accept all forms of activity and eliminate any standard of righteousness. Hate is not the problem. What we choose to do with hate and how we choose to act in hate is what we need to address.

We have forgotten that God hates. We have been so intent on making everyone believe that God is only love and accepts everyone and everything as good that we forget that God hates anything that is opposed to His righteousness.

Proverbs 6:16-19  “There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”

God’s wisdom also tells us to hate what he hates. The Apostle Paul says in Romans 12:9 that we are to let love be genuine. Hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”  And in Revelation 2:6 Jesus commends the church at Ephesus for hating false teaching. “Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”

From God’s perspective of absolute holiness and righteousness, everything that stands opposed to Him is to be hated. However, that does not mean we can hate the person who is trapped in unrighteous behavior. We must hate the sin that is causing their activity, but we must have God’s love towards the person who is trapped in it. I believe the reason for the “STOP HATE” slogan is because God’s people are not embracing those opposed to God and seeking to lead them to Jesus. It is our own activity of hate that stops people from seeing the love of God.

So take a moment and look at the list of seven things that God hates. It’s not a complete list of everything opposed to God but it is a good starting point. After reviewing the list, ask yourself two questions?

1. Are any of these things a consistent part of my life?
2. How am I responding to people who are guilty of these things?

As you purify your own heart before God, seek the abundance of His love that rescued you so it can flow out of you towards others that you tend to hate.

• haughty eyes,
• a lying tongue,
• hands that shed innocent blood,
• a heart that devises wicked plans,
• feet that make haste to run to evil,
• a false witness who breathes out lies,
• one who sows discord among brothers.

Pastor John