Love / Hate Relationship!

Some people share what has been referred to as a love/hate relationship. In such relationships there seems to be just enough love to keep drawing them together, but enough hate to stir up the pot of antagonism between them. Due to the tug-of-war which is created by the love and the hate there is a continual collision with each other and peace is never found. Such relationships need some counsel and a concerted effort to work together.

There is a spiritual sense in which if we do not get the love/hate relationship right, we too will find ourselves in a continual struggle. When it comes to distinguishing between good and evil, compromise will place our heart and life in a continual tug-of-war.

In the Psalms we read…
“O you who LOVE THE LORD, HATE EVIL! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” ( Psalm 97:10 ESV)

As we grow in our love for the Lord we ought to grow in our love for what HE LOVES. (i.e. Psalm 33:5) We should also learn to hate what HE HATES. (i.e. Proverbs 6:16-19) The distinctions we make in our life need to be those that God has made.

Solomon stated…
“The FEAR OF THE LORD IS HATRED OF EVIL. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” ( Proverbs 8:13 ESV)

When we truly love God and let Him have His rightful place in our life we should be drawn toward what He loves and away from what He despises.

Paul exhorted…
“Let love be genuine. ABHOR WHAT IS EVIL; HOLD FAST TO WHAT IS GOOD.” ( Romans 12:9 ESV)

To abhor is to detest or despise. The Greek word used by Paul implies the idea of hating or being in horror of. We must guard against being desensitized by the world regarding what God has declared evil while we continue to hold fast to what He has declared good.

Recognizing that a spirit of repentance is the act of turning away from that which is wrong and walking toward God, may it continually happen in our life as we set our heart on loving what HE LOVES and hating what HE HATES. Let us seek to grow in sharing the mind of God as He has revealed it in the Scriptures. Such a focus will aid us in making the right choices in our daily life.

Have a great day LOOKING AT LIFE THROUGH THE HEART OF GOD!
Carl

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