Skip to main content

Mutual Hatred

Proverbs 29:27 The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.

We have a problem here, don't we? There is a constant detestation going on between two sectors of society. In one sense, there are no righteous. The Bible reminds us of that point in Romans 3:10. However, the redeemed are righteous in Christ. 

The wicked are described as both evil and dishonest. So, we could say that all wicked are crooked and all dishonest are corrupt; they are the same. Again Romans 3 gives us insight where it says, "there is none that does good, not even one." 

This understanding helps us to know that the Christian way is unique. It is an impossible way without redemption. Jesus told his men, "I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father, except by me." So, the way to God, and perfection, is through Jesus Christ. There is no other way to get to Him. 

Being a Christian does not make a person perfect, but it does make that person different from society. The new life in Christ shines His light on our insufficiency and inability to be righteous and good. So, with this understanding, the Holy Spirit works His righteousness in and through us. 

At this juncture, the hating society shows its ugly head. Society cannot stand to see a righteous one in its midst. Travel back to Sodom and Gomorrah for a glimpse of society's reaction to righteousness. There, the men circled Lot's house to get a piece of the two angelic visitors. Only when they were struck blind did they leave the two alone. And, even then, they groped for the door! 

Christian, you are different. You are salt and light in a world needing both. The world killed the Son of Righteousness, and they will kill you too if given the opportunity. Don't be discouraged. Jesus said, "I have overcome the world!" and, "Love those who persecute you." However, when He returns, He will destroy all wickedness and punish with everlasting torment. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Caught up to Paradise - 2 Corinthians 12

Residing in Michigan for over half my life, I had heard about Paradise. Because Paradise is a small town in the Upper Peninsula, you may have never visited there in your life, but you knew it existed. It was WAY up there next to Tahquamenon Falls and nothing else. Where's Tahquamenon Falls? Next to Paradise and nothing else. It's a long way from home.  Why all of the talk about Paradise? Because Paul talks about it in 2 Corinthians 12. There was this guy who had been caught up to Paradise. Not in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but into the REAL Paradise. While there, he'd heard things that he was unable to repeat. What on earth was this? Who was this guy? Here's what was going on. Paul defended his position of Apostleship in chapter eleven and gave the Corinthians an idea of what Apostleship looked like in chapter twelve. It came with great wonders, like seeing or instead hearing unimaginable things. But, too, that position came with a terrible cost. God gave Paul a &q
Post a Comment
Read more

What to get God for Christmas

Jesus left perfect surroundings, relationships and glory to be born into squalor. He was homeless before birth. His father was a carpenter in a culture where carpentry was a despised trade. His, mother though young and giving birth to her firstborn, had no attendant nurses, helpers or friends. Rather than a pristine hospital, birth was given in the filthy stench of a stable. Romantic? Hardly. This sacrifice brought a life of hardship. Why? Why this odd story? Obedience. God's gift to humanity was His son. Jesus' gift was obedience to the Father. He paid the greatest price. Not because we are special but because he loves His Father. His gift was the perfect gift. Our Father wants obedience for Christmas and every other day for that matter. In Brazil Christmas is becoming commercialized. A phenomenon familiar for years in the United States tickles a growing economy. There is little time for meditation on God's Gift. There are no chestnuts roasting or Jack Frost nippin
Post a Comment
Read more

Stop Trusting

Isaiah 2:22 says Isaiah 2:22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? The Prophet is saying that we shouldn't put our trust in humankind because they are so finite. They are not like God, who is infinite. People are fickle. They change their minds. They love you and then hate you in moments.  God invites us to trust him completely with everything that we have. He doesn't show himself to us physically or as a spirit. He demands that we have faith. However, he also gives us the faith to trust him.  The universe shouts "Creator!" and yet we often ignore the proclamation. This ignorance does not make God's creation any less a physical demonstration of his grandeur. God's boundless being becomes more amazing in his presence within us. How can the infinite God dwell in the mortals he commands us not to trust?  Jesus said, "with man it is impossible but with God, all things are possible." 
Post a Comment
Read more