Dear Abdullah,
In our effort to know God more, we looked at a number of aspects to make us wise. There is another one we dare not skip, a topic which confronts us with a problem that affects us day by day, and which is, consequently, most relevant. It is what God hates.
Some time ago someone asked me why Christians are so ‘obsessed with sin’, as he put it. “Because we offend God when we do what He hates”, I replied. This amounts to spiritual unfaithfulness toward God. When one of the partners in a marriage bond commits adultery, and hides his or her breach of trust from the partner, this may stay unnoticed. Not so with God. Just think, how may the God of righteousness and love feel when we cheat Him? Don’t we just behave as though He does not exist, or does not care? You judge for yourself.
Whatever is offensive to the nature or ‘character’ of God is sin. The Bible makes it clear to us who God is, and the way God wants us to be:
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things…
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry…
now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips… Do not lie to each other…
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts”. (Col 3:2-15)
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about these things.” (Php 4:8)
Recent Comments