What actions can we take to avoid being among those God "abhors"? Key Verse “You destroy those who speak falsehood; the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.” – Psalm 5:6 What God Abhors • “Those who speak falsehood” • “The man of bloodshed and deceit” Why It Matters God’s character is perfectly righteous (Psalm 11:7). Anything opposed to His nature provokes His holy hatred. To escape the company He abhors, we must reject the practices He names—violence and deception—and actively pursue their God-approved opposites. Practical Ways to Reject Falsehood • Tell the truth the first time. “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25). • Keep promises—even small ones (Psalm 15:4). • Refuse half-truths and exaggerations; a partial lie is still a lie (Proverbs 12:22). • Confess quickly when you fail (1 John 1:9). Concealed sin breeds more deceit. • Let your words build up, not manipulate (Ephesians 4:29). • Saturate your mind with Scripture; truth in, truth out (John 17:17). Practical Ways to Reject Bloodshed and Violence • Cherish every human life as God’s image-bearer (Genesis 9:6). • Guard the heart against anger, the seed of murder (Matthew 5:21-22). • Practice peacemaking: pursue reconciliation before resentment hardens (Romans 12:18; Matthew 5:23-24). • Reject entertainment that glamorizes violence; what we applaud we eventually imitate (Psalm 101:3). • Support justice rather than vengeance; leave payback to God (Romans 12:19). • Defend the vulnerable rather than exploit them (Proverbs 24:11-12). Cultivating the Opposite Spirit 1. Love Truth • Meditate on God’s Word daily (Psalm 119:11). • Welcome honest correction (Proverbs 9:8-9). 2. Love Peace • Pray for enemies (Matthew 5:44). • Serve others in practical ways; love disarms hostility (Galatians 5:13-15). 3. Walk in the Light • Stay transparent with trusted believers (James 5:16). • Keep short accounts with God and people (Acts 24:16). 4. Be Filled with the Spirit • The Spirit produces truthfulness and self-control (Ephesians 5:18-19; Galatians 5:22-23). • Rely on His power, not sheer willpower, to change (Philippians 2:13). Putting It All Together Avoiding what God abhors is less about a checklist and more about a heart aligned with His. As we daily choose truth over lies and peace over violence, we walk the narrow path He delights in: “The LORD loves the righteous” (Psalm 146:8). |
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