Daily Verse: Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrong.

Our country is currently taking a lot of directions that as followers of Christ we might not be comfortable with. In fact, many of us might be downright angry and want to lash out at those that are leading our great nation down a troubled path. Make no mistake, God detests sin…he hates it, he has no room for it. But while he hates sin, he loves the person that is sinning. We are all sinners…just see Romans 3:10, “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one’”…therefore we have all failed. So should we stand condemning others lost in sin? No…as is seen in Romans 2:1, “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” While we are not to judge, we are also not to accept, encourage, or promote sin in our lives or the lives of others…evident in Romans 1:32, “Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” We are not to allow the world to desensitize us to its ways to the point that we lose sight of God’s commands. This is no easy line to toe. For when we see something that is wrong, it is natural to make a quick judgment about it. And that judgment often directs our words and actions. And that is why I love the verse above. For when we get all torn up and angry about the sins in this world…about the direction our leaders are taking us…we want to react in hate. We want to get aggressive and start tearing it all down. But the verse above gives us the remedy…hate breeds conflict, hate breeds trouble, hate breeds strife and division. Hate won’t solve anything. But love…love is the key…love covers it all…love takes the sin and pushes it aside and embraces the person. Isn’t this exactly what Christ did? He came to this world, witnessed all the disgusting things man was doing, and he reacted in love. He did not start slinging mud and striking people down…but he also did not participate or encourage their sin. Instead he provided the ultimate display of love…giving himself up so that all those who are lost in their sin might come to redemption, turning away from their old lives and embracing a new life in him. May we strive today to react in love, praying that the Lord push aside the sin in our lives and the lives of others, and striving to not only hear his direction, but follow it with willful discipline (Romans 2:13). To God be the glory!