The devotional below came out on June 6, 2024 and we wanted to share it with you all right away, but Gene had gone into the VA hospital with an abdominal issue; so, we were a little preoccupied with that! He ultimately had surgery and is now recuperating nicely at home….working on being back in the saddle again very soon! Please keep him in your prayers!
This is a word we need to give some serious thought and prayer to.
 Rom 12:9 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” |
Romans chapter 12 is a great chapter on what the practical Christian life looks like. While most of the book discusses deep Theological & doctrinal concepts; chapter 12 says, “Here’s what the Christian life looks like lived out; here is Christianity in practice; here is what we believe in action.” While I would like to discuss each one of these points, space does not permit it. Therefore, we will look at just one point Paul makes in verse 9: “God’s kind of love is genuine and sincere, not hypocritical. Therefore, abhor, hate and utterly detest what is evil; and cleave (stick like glue) to that which is good.” God loves people (Jn 3:16), but He hates evil. If we wonder how much He hates sin, we need only to look at the cross and what it took for God to free is from it. Therefore, we are to love people (Mk 12:31) and hate evil. If we love God, we hate evil (Ps 97:10). If we fear God, we hate evil (Prv 8:13). As God’s children, we are to hate the evil and love the good (Amos 5:15). Paul says it is hypocritical to say we walk in the love of God, yet we don’t hate what He hates and love what He loves. That is not love, but a lie. God is love (1Jn 4:8), and God hates evil. Are we so arrogant, that we think we’re more loving than God; when we excuse and embrace evil and call it being “loving”? In reality, that is nothing more than (the improper) love of self – and thus, love of evil. For instance, I’m sure we all know it’s “pride month”, when corporations work overtime to pander to the LGBT crowd and show their “love”. Is this godly? Is this what God would have us do? Is this truly love? Not in the least. If a friend or loved one told you they were “gay”, you ought not hate them. Our heart should be, “I love you and care about you, and that will never change. However, I will not condone or embrace your lifestyle. I cannot love what God hates. I hate the lies you’re believing and the evil you’re practicing – because God hates those things and calls them evil. Therefore, I cannot call them good or acceptable. God loves you and sent Jesus to die for you and set you free; and I love you enough to tell you the truth. What is the truth? That homosexuality is an abomination to God (Lev 18:22); that you are in danger of being given over to a reprobate mind (Rom 1:24-28) and not inheriting the Kingdom of God (1Cor 6:9-10, Jude 1:7). I say this, not because I hate you, but because I love you (Lev 19:17). I tell you the truth, because I’m your friend, not your enemy (Gal 4:16).” As saints, we love the sinner but hate the sin. We show kindness, mercy and grace to people; but utterly reject the evil they believe, speak and practice. We are not perfect, nor ought we pretend to be. We ought also have no more tolerance for evil in our own lives, than in others. This is being sincere, consistent, and true to God and His Word – not hypocritical. May we not twist and pervert God’s love into something it is not. May we remember that both TRUTH and LOVE came by Jesus Christ (Jn 1:14, 17); and if we deny the truth and call it “love”, it is not love at all – and will result in tragic consequences for both us and them. In HIS Love, Pastor J.D. Link Abundant Grace Fellowship Church Blanco, Texas |
