Through the Bible - Proverbs 5-6, I Corinthians 15:1-34
Good morning,
In a sermon from 1 Corinthians John Piper stated, " I hope you will agree with me this morning that in order to love deeply, there are things you must deeply hate. You could think of examples yourself. To love children deeply you must hate any mistreatment or neglect that destroys them. If you love clear-headed kindness and respect, you have to hate alcoholism and drug addiction. If you love freedom, you have to hate slavery and totalitarianism.
The reason I start with this observation is because I am about to tell you something God hates, and I know that the word hate by itself has a negative and unattractive ring to it. But I want you to realize from the very outset that God's hatred is the reflex of his love.
The only reason anybody should hate anything is because it replaces or ruins something beautiful and wonderful. Hatred should always stand in the service of love. If you hate anything, it should be because you love something more. So when I tell you that God hates something, I want you to hear that hatred as the echo of his love. He hates what he hates because it replaces or ruins something beautiful. "
Yesterday we considered the Biblical standard for love in 1Corinthians 13. For today's verses we'll go to today's Old Testament reading in Proverbs 6, where we find six, no seven things that the Lord hates.
Prov 6:16 There are six things the Lord hates—
no, seven things he detests:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill the innocent,
18 a heart that plots evil,
feet that race to do wrong,
19 a false witness who pours out lies,
a person who sows discord in a family. NLT
no, seven things he detests:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill the innocent,
18 a heart that plots evil,
feet that race to do wrong,
19 a false witness who pours out lies,
a person who sows discord in a family. NLT
In writing about yesterday's passage from 1 Corinthians 13 Jonathan Edwards pointed out that to love like this would involve a dispostion to hope, a disposition to give, and a disposition of affection. What do you think would be the disposition of a person that is being described in Proverbs 6 above? It's a disposition towards selfishness, pride, deceit and overall disdain for others. Websters defines "disdain" as "to regard or treat as unworthy or beneath one's dignity."
This attitude, this heart, will stand in the way instead of standing in the gap between God and man. What do we need? We need to hate the things that God hates, and their consequences, what they do to people and to overcome them with love.
I've referenced it before, but here are a few stanzas of the Steve Green song, "Teach Me to Love"
There's no power but the power of the cross
That can melt my hardened heart
And show me all the pride and arrogance
That tear our souls apart
For injustice that you suffer
And for our nation's shameful sin
I humbly ask for your forgiveness
We need to learn to love again
Chorus:
Lord, teach me to love
Show me how to care for others
Cause my soul to burn within
For the fellowship of my brother
Only You can break the chains
That have held me for so long
Lord, You're my hope, my only hope
Teach me to love
That can melt my hardened heart
And show me all the pride and arrogance
That tear our souls apart
For injustice that you suffer
And for our nation's shameful sin
I humbly ask for your forgiveness
We need to learn to love again
Chorus:
Lord, teach me to love
Show me how to care for others
Cause my soul to burn within
For the fellowship of my brother
Only You can break the chains
That have held me for so long
Lord, You're my hope, my only hope
Teach me to love
1 Cor 13:7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. NLT
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Prov 6:12-23
12 A scoundrel and villain,
who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 who winks with his eye,
signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,
14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart —
he always stirs up dissension.
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
he will suddenly be destroyed — without remedy.
who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 who winks with his eye,
signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,
14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart —
he always stirs up dissension.
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
he will suddenly be destroyed — without remedy.
16 There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
20 My son, keep your father's commands
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
21 Bind them upon your heart forever;
fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For these commands are a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way to life,
NIV
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
21 Bind them upon your heart forever;
fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For these commands are a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way to life,
NIV
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