Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:9-12 (New Living Translation)
"Hate what is wrong" and "hold tightly to what is good"! It is not enough for God's children to love righteousness; they must also hate evil. In order to be successful in this regard; we must be able to separate the evil from the evil doer. The bible is not telling us to hate anyone, but we should hate evil and sin. Even when Jesus was on the cross; I believe that He hated the evil that was done to him but not necessarily the persons committing the evil.
Our children must know that it is not wrong for them to hate what is wrong. Some of their so-called friends may challenge them for taking a righteous stand against evil, but there is no gray area with evil...you either love it or hate it. James 4:3-5; "...don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God". Hmmm...friends with the world (evil), makes me an enemy of God (who hold the world in His hands); I'll take God for eternity Alex!
Lord, we desire to be righteous and therefore we must hate those things that are contrary to You. Help us recognize the evil, the root, the spirit, the principality that tries to come against us, give us wisdom to discern it and let us utilize Your armor to combat it. We will not allow our children to be deceived or made to feel guilty about hating what is wrong. We choose, this day, whom we shall serve! In Jesus name, Amen!
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