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There are six things the LORD hates—no, seven things he detests:
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill the innocent,
a heart that plots evil,
feet that race to do wrong,
a false witness who pours out lies,
a person who sows discord in a family.
My son, obey your father's commands, and don't
neglect your mother's instruction. Proverbs 6:16-20
Meditate. What did your father and mother teach you? What
are you teaching your children?
God is so specific. He gave the children of Israel 613 laws
to guide and govern them in religious, social, family and health areas. In
addition, He spelled out explicit things that really displeased Him so that
people can avoid those actions.
Haughty eyes. Those belong to a self-centered,
conceited, arrogant, overconfident, proud, or condescending person. What kind
of eyes would please God? Humble or modest.
A lying tongue. One of the Ten Commandments states: “You
must not testify falsely against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16. False testimony
is a lie. Plain and simple. You must not lie. What kind of tongue would be
pleasing to God? Honesty, truthful, straightforward, or honorable.
Hands that kill the innocent. Another one of the Ten
Commandments states: "You must not murder." Exodus 20:13. That
is a direct and merciful statement. It doesn’t matter if it is the body or the
spirit, it is wrong to “kill” another person. What would God have us do
instead? Forgive, encourage, revive, or build up.
A heart that plots evil. That is a person who is
subversive, dishonest, or a conspirator. Their actions may look like some immoral,
criminal television show. Maybe they just plot evil and don’t carry it out.
Jesus pointed out in His Sermon on the Mount that to think some action is the
same as doing that same thing. What would God want someone to do? Be law-abiding,
obedient to His laws and ways, kindhearted, forgiving, positive thinking, and encouraging.
Feet that race to do wrong. Again, we can picture a
person that we might see in a crime TV show racing to harm someone or running
away after they’ve done their wicked deed. What alternative action would please
God? Running to help someone; walking in the way that God wants, that pleases
Him; as Paul wrote…I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the
heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:14
A false witness who pours out lies. This false
witness is a person who is not obeying the big law…the Ten Commandments. Again,
may I quote…"You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.” Exodus
20:16. You must not lie. It doesn’t matter if it is in court or in casual
conversation over the back fence. Lying is not acceptable. What does God
require? Honesty.
A person who sows discord in a family. The family is
the backbone of our existence. It is within the family that we learn to love
and care for others. If discord is sown, then the harvest will be conflict,
arguments, cacophony, disputes, or strife. Maybe all of those. What does God
want parents, teens, and children to do in their families? Treat others the way
they want to be treated (the Golden Rule - For you will be treated as you treat
others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be
judged. Matthew 7:2); encourage; build-up; teach; admonish, and above all…love
one another. And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his
Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 1 John
3:23
Our calling, our responsibility to God and to others is to
love…and to please God…not ourselves or others. Our relationship with God
depends on our attitude and actions towards Him and others.
So whether we are
here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 2
Corinthians 5:9
Obviously, I'm not
trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my
goal, I would not be Christ's servant. Galatians 1:10
Whom do you live to please?
Verse of Salvation ~ But may all who search for you be
filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, "God is great!" Psalm 70:4
Memory Verse of the Week ~ God saved you by his grace
when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can
boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9
Test yourself. Did you successfully memorize these verses?
Do they mean something more to you today than they did on Monday?
© 2022 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
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