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Psalm 119:139 – I am overwhelmed with indignation, for my enemies have disregarded your words. (NLT)
Listening to the evening news is enough to make anyone mad at sin.
Consider these reports: A police officer intentionally shooting and killing a man. A man shooting his parents and then going to a local business to kill his ex-girlfriend, too. A woman discarding her unwanted child in the trash dumpster. Tons of pollution ascending into the air that people breathe or descending into fresh water sources that people drink. Radical religious sects beheading individuals just because they're from another religious tradition. A local animal shelter displaying pictures of cats and dogs severely abused by their owners, especially kittens and puppies that can't fend for themselves.
In biblical times, the nation of Israel had any number of enemies who wanted to subdue her, rule over her, and steal her treasures: Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Syrians, Edomites, Philistines. They surrounded her with a web of evil and couldn't wait to draw her in, roll her up, and administer the death sting. Like Goliath with David, they wanted to feed her flesh to the birds of the air.
Sin causes us anguish because it infringes on our rights, the rights of others, and on the good plan that God has for His earth. While the earth itself has been affected by sin, it is the sinful people who live here that infest it with sinful practices.
But sin, rather than the sinner, is what must be the object of our anger. Jesus didn't get mad at people; He got angry over the sinful deeds that they committed. He loved criminals, prostitutes, thieves, the religious left, and the religious right. He extended to all the privilege of becoming God's children and of having their sinful actions and attitudes transformed into godly ones. And He still does.
Sin should anger us, but we should never get angry at the one sinning. Except for the grace of God, we might be walking in their shoes. Do you hate sin but love the sinner?
Prayer: Father, enable us to get angry over sin but at the same time to love the sinner. Amen.
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Good morning Martin
Yes this is an easy one to do.. hate the sinner but we need to live the example Christ lived.
God bless.
Amen, Martin. Blessings.
A timely message indeed!!!
Thanks for a good word today, Martin.
This is a very challenging message – hate sin and love the sinner – only with God’s guidance is this possible.
Martin, your devotion was right on, and I have looked at the hopelessness o this world. Thanks for reminding us who is in charge!
Thank you, Martin, as you say, we must hate the sin, love the sinner, hard to do sometimes when it is you that is hurt by the wrongdoing, but Jesus is there to help if we only let Him. Blessings.
Thank you, Martin, for Today’s Devotional. It gave me pause to consider my own sin. One (not the only one) that came to mind, is judging others and how easy it is to see someone else’s sin and not my own.
Blessings to you and yours.
Hello Martin
This is so tragically true!! Sin not the person! That is one of my daily prayers, “God help me to see people and things the way Jesus sees them, and please take the plank from eye so I can help someone tale the sliver from their eye.”
God bless.
Dear Martin,
I sometimes forget that Jesus welcomed everyone and especially the sinners. Thanks for the reminder. I use “But for the grace of God go I.” all the time to help me be more humble and accepting of others.
This is a very important message to remind us that we are all sinners, and we want God’s love so we should offer it to all. May you have a blessed day.
Thanks, Martin, for another of your special and most informative devotionals. There sure are some awful and frightening things happening in our world these days and I’m sure our Lord is very disappointed in the behaviours going on. Your words are so true that we must hate the sin but show love and kindness to the sinner. In so doing would make for better behaviours in more people. Blessings for these writings and enjoy a warm and sunny weekend.
Hi. Thanks for your devotional. I always find it hard to separate the sinner from the sin. I understand the principle that people can change. However, when a person has become bent from their life experiences (sometimes through no fault of their own) and chooses to inflict damage or death on others there is something wrong with their view of what they are entitled to do to others. I think this is very hard to change and it takes a lot of good counselling. Both my sons are recovered addicts and I have seen how a life can be turned around. It only takes a 15 degree turn at a time and soon they will be going the other way. But what if they do not accept the need to change and instead, continue down this road of death and destruction because they like it, and it feeds a need inside them to dominate others?
Great message and one that is not often followed. It’s too easy to condemn those who are committing sins. Thank you.