Saturday, February 1, 2014

The Lord Hates

Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

1- A proud look - pride, self-centered, boastful, haughty.
2- A lying tongue- liars, any lie, all lies.
3- Hands that shed innocent blood- murder.
4- A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations-evil scheming, destructive planning.
5- Feet that be swift in running to mischief- eager to do wrong, ready to cause strife in any form at any moment, desiring to cause trouble and upset.
6- A false witness that speaketh lies-  lying against others, harming others by not telling the truth, protecting yourself through lying, through providing false information.
7- He that soweth discord among brethren- stirring up strife, enjoying being able to cause others to fight against each other.

The LORD hates all the above and yet for so many this is their daily way of life, isn't it? We can make all kinds of excuses to justify when we come off as being prideful, boastful, haughty- because we're not supposedly really doing that, we're just 'saying', we're just 'explaining', we're just 'letting people know' and don't worry we're still good people because we give to the poor, we help those in need, we give 'this and that' much to the charities that need our help.  Truly- even more boasting in the justification.   We are told the LORD hates a proud look and that proud look is a self-pride, it's a haughtiness in us individually.

We've been talking about selfishness and our need to be rid of self and filled with Christ, if we are haughty and prideful that is the ultimate in being filled to the brim with selfishness. Even if you give millions to the poor you can do so and still be filled with intense pride and selfishness.  We have to be EMPTIED of self, empty of pride because we have to be able to fully comprehend we only exist because of our Creator, because of our Savior and we lose sight of that often and some lose sight of it altogether. When we lay claim to self--boasting then we leave out the truth that all things worth boasting about are gifts entirely from God. Yes, all things.  It's by HIS grace that we are given any talents we may have.

Our Savior said--

Joh_5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Joh_8:28  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

Jesus could do NOTHING of himself!

And if JESUS could do NOTHING of HIMSELF- why in the world do we ever believe WE can do things of ourselves? Why? Why do we imagine any kindness in ourselves comes from ourselves? Why do we have to bother ourselves about whether or not WE are good people?  We aren't supposed to even be thinking that way, but rather whether or not we are GOD'S people!  Are we GOD'S people?!   If we are God's, truly God's, and not under some false god's control, then we will automatically become what we imagine being a good person is.  If our 'goodness' isn't God's goodness it's not goodness at all, not really.

God works in all people in different ways, the most sweet, the most kind person who claims to believe in no God at the moment could be under the influence of God and being led to Him by a different path than the one we are on. We can condemn NO ONE!  We can pray for their walk with God to become fully realized, but who are we to judge when we cannot see the end from the beginning.

We need our Savior to empty us of self. We need to abase ourselves, meaning put down and degrade the part in us that wants to be prideful. When we are blessed to realize our own prideful acts we should immediately repent of them! God first, God always!

When inside us stirs up that flickering evil flame of - 'What about me? Where do I fit in?'- we have to stamp it down and fully comprehend there would be NO 'me', there would be NO 'I' without God FIRST!

Please Lord Savior, Creator, please help us to be boastful only of YOU, let any pride we have be pride of YOU and not of self.  Bless us and keep us IN YOU always, our blessed Savior!

In YOUR amazing LOVE!

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