Thursday Reflection May 21, 2020

*Thursday Reflection**May 21, 2020*

**Thursday Reflection**May 21, 2020*

*You who love the Lord, hate evil! Psalm 97:10*

The presence of evil is all around us. We see it on the news. We hear of it in our communities. Some of have been victims of it? But what really is meant by evil? Ra’ is the Hebrew word used to describe evil in this text. Ra in its simplest term is evil, but other definitions of the word includes calamity, distress, misery and injury. According to Bible Study Tools, Ra is often times used to describe the opposite of good.

In other words those who love the Lord– who is good and the epitome of righteousness– must hate what is evil or what is bad in the eyes of the Lord. You see brothers and sisters we have often times look at evil as some atrocious action committed by someone or the presence of Satan and his demons. But here evil is being defined as anything that goes against what is good in the sight of the Lord. In lay man terms, I am evil, you are evil and all of humanity is evil. For the truth is we have all gone astray and our righteousness are like filthy rags. If we are all evil, why then is the Psalmist saying we should hate evil?

The answer to that is in the first part of the verse, “You who love the Lord.” Those who truly love the Lord, will love the things that the Lord loves and hate the things that the Lord hates. If we do not completely love the Lord then we cannot hate evil. It is only when we live to please the Lord that we will hate the evil that is around us and within us. When we make God our primary focus then we are consumed by that- the presence of God.

We cannot have it both ways. We cannot say we love God and still be engaged in evil. Remember evil is anything that contradicts the nature of God- it is the opposite of God’s goodness. So in other words we cannot say we love God but have haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, bear false witness and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. Proverbs 6: 17-19. We cannot say we love God but still actively practice sexual immorality, impurity and corruption; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. Galatians 5:19-21. Friends we cannot say we love God, but continue to live in sin. If we love God then we will hate these things are evil, because it goes against the will of God.

As people who love God let us love the things that God loves. “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8. The Lord wants us to love the things that are good which is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23.There is no middle ground. Is either you love God or you don’t. You cannot love him in part, because if you do then you will tolerate evil whether in your life or around you. We are called to stand up against evil in our lives and in the lives around us. We take a stand against evil by loving God completely.

*Shalom*

*Christopher Euphfa*