Tag: Things God hates

What Will God, or a Self-Evaluation Reveal

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Blog, Celebrate God, Needs, Podcast, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Saturday, May 20, 2023, and I was blessed to be at O’Brien, FL when God inspired me to write this blog post. If short on time to read my devotional, please consider visiting Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuggets-from-gods-word/id1558668439.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE The Passion Translation (TPT) IS FOUND IN Proverbs 6:16-19

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: There are six evils God truly hates, and a seventh that is an abomination to him:
(1) Putting others down while considering yourself superior, (2) spreading lies and rumors, (3) spilling the blood of the innocent, (4) plotting evil in your heart toward another, (5) gloating over doing what’s plainly wrong, (6) spouting lies in false testimony, and (7) stirring up strife between friends.  These are entirely despicable to God!

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS: As an employee, I despised self-evaluations, but as a supervisor, I loved to hear the ratings by my employees in their self-evaluations! This caused us to take time to examine ourselves and be honest through what we really knew deep down inside. I feel like today’s Scripture gives us 7 areas of life to perform a self-evaluation on ourselves before we bow at Jesus’ feet and hear His judgment on these areas of our life. Take time to perform your self-evaluation today!

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: In the business world I discovered several kinds of employees, when it came to evaluations. Some would not complete a self-evaluation, because they already knew they exceeded expectations in every area of their job description! Some completed an evaluation, but they did just as I already described – they rated themselves either ‘very good’, or ‘excellent’ in all categories. Then there were some who really took their self-evaluation seriously and often rated themselves more critically than their supervisor. I remember offering to lower my rating to match theirs a few times, but the employee asked me not to!! But it was obvious that supervisors saw what the employee wanted you to see, while employees knew deep inside what they felt about their performance. Friends, if the world knew us half as good as we know ourselves deep inside, they would understand our mindset while performing some of our job requirements. Some religious scholars might try to encourage you by saying that we need not heed to these instructions that Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs, but only pay attention to what God said personally, and through His Son, Jesus. However, I subscribe to the thought of other scholars who will tell you that God allowed every word we read in His Book of Instruction, as they were uniquely inspired by Him for our good. Employees questioned, and often we too will ponder, why on earth are these rules in place and expected of us? But let’s never forget that it was God who created us. and it was He who also had a plan in mind for us to spend all eternity with Him. In giving us the freedom to live here on earth for a time, He knew we would face the temptations of the evil one and the misgivings of the ones who choose to give Satan rule over their life. For those who choose to accept Jesus as Lord, God wanted us to have His very special guidebook (the Bible) where we might learn about His ideals, His desires, His wisdom, His guidance and His love that permits Him to willingly be our guide while here on earth. This includes telling us the things that He dislikes and despises, such as in our Scripture verses today. Let me encourage you dear friends to pay close attention to what displeases our Maker, our Redeemer and our Everlasting King. I took the liberty of numerating each of the seven things mentioned in our Scripture. Please ask God to open your heart and your eyes to see if you need closer attention to either of these things. Do your self-evaluation today, so that when You meet Jesus face-to-face, He will be pleased to welcome you home to glory with the words we all anticipate – ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’. It WILL be worth it all dear friends!

BLESSINGS WORTH NOTING: Knowing what God hates should help us strive to please Him in every way, in every walk of life, every day!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Thank You Lord for creating us in your own image, and in Your perfect will. Allowing us to live in this world with all of its troubles, and with so many led by the evil one, has left us doing things that I’m sure has disappointed You. Especially after being reminded by today’s Scripture of the things You hate and that are considered despicable to You, we can only hang our heads in shame, knowing that we have failed in so many ways. However, through Jesus Christ, we can do all things and be perfect in Your sight, if we allow the Holy Spirit to control our minds, our actions and our feelings towards others. So, precious Lord, I plead with You to open our minds, our understanding and our heart to desire a life pleasing to You. I know that in Your strength, You can do ALL things, so please help us to keep focused on what You desire of us. Direct us towards Your Word each day, so that we could read all that You outlined for us. I believe that it’s only through Your power and our submissiveness that we will overcome this world and the evil one. Touch the lives of the unsaved that may happen across this devotional, Lord. Draw them to Yourself before it is too late. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading/listening to this devotional, please click on this page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If like to see/hear more of my devotionals, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more or go to https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuggets-from-gods-word/id1558668439 to listen to more podcasts. Of course you can also choose to freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s written devotional, or on the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word and click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Please allow me to encourage you to find a church home near by your home and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Things That Are Totally Despicable To God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-05-06
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Proverbs 6:16-19
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 16 There are six evils God truly hates
and a seventh that is an abomination to him:
17 Putting others down while considering yourself superior,
spreading lies and rumors,
spilling the blood of the innocent,
18 plotting evil in your heart toward another,
gloating over doing what’s plainly wrong,
19 spouting lies in false testimony,
and stirring up strife between friends.
These are entirely despicable to God!

APPLICATION: Whether things are going extremely well for us, or beyond challenging for us, I can’t imagine that anyone would possibly think about doing some of the ugly things mentioned in Solomon’s warning. However, my God knows the good, the bad and the ugly about His children that He created in His image. But friends, we have heard about more extreme and weird crimes than we ever imagined. So yes, I believe that God knew about our need for reminders about the things that He hates. When sin entered this world (that thing that causes us to perform certain acts, and say things that are contrary to God’s design, and in contrast to His teachings) Satan had the goal of redirecting our hearts and our minds away from God’s original design. He chose to redirect, steal, and misguide God’s children away from Him. Satan’s lies and deception causes us to think that there is a better way – one where we might be more powerful and better off at the end of the day. Unfortunately, when we become subservient to Satan, we often do the things that God abhors, and that He teaches against and tries to steer us away from. Our God will not be lifted up, magnified, glorified or praised by folk under the influence of the evil one. God inspired Solomon to forewarn us about the things that God really despises, because he didn’t want us to find ourselves headed in a direction away from God, that may be extremely challenging for us to reverse. I realize that each one could read the Scripture verses for themselves, but I want to add a few comments to each of the seven things, based on my studies. Here are the things we are warned about by Solomon, that God hates:
1) Haughty, or proud eyes, belonging to one who lifts up self, at the expense of others. Jesus practiced humility to an extreme, and He wants us to do the same;
2) Being untruthful, for we will never gain the trust of our fellow man. Plus we tend to falsely accuse others through our lies;
3) Killing innocent people. I know, you’re not a murderer, right? But are you a participant or promoter of abortion. Or are you one to do everything in your power to promote ‘life’ as God has given it to us?
4) Plotting evil towards another – the Word explains that this is devising wicked schemes in our heart. Perhaps it is best to quickly seek help, as it could lead to disastrous actions;
5) Gloating over the evil you’ve done – instead of placing your head between your knees in sorrow, shame and regret over what you’ve done;
6) False Testimony – being an untrusted witness – in court, or if questioned by authorities; and
7) Stirring up strife between others – This might be friends, family or coworkers, where you have chosen to help divide, instead of bringing peace between the affected parties.
Friends, no doubt you could see yourself in one or more of these seven things. Let me suggest that you speak with the God of this universe, and ask for His help, strength and guidance in overcoming the temptations of the evil one. Please join me in a desire to be more like Jesus and to follow His teachings and His will for our lives. Jesus went about doing good in every walk of life, and so should we, God being our helper!

PRAYER: Precious Lord Jesus, we your children, have allowed the world to sway our minds and lead us into actions that You despise. As Your child, I am embarrassed and sorrowful that You are having to look on the mess we have made of the perfect people that You placed here on earth. On behalf of my readers and listeners, I humbly ask that You forgive us and give us extra strength to overcome the evil one, while doing our utmost to please You and obey You while here on earth. Please guide us into all truth, and remind us often of the One to whom we belong, and help us to live boldly in the light of Your teachings and Your example, so that others may see and believe in the God we serve. Please speak firmly to the unsaved today, so that they may surrender their lives to You and become one with You.  AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Stay Away From Things That God Hates

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, God Cares For Us, God our Helper, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Things that make God angry, WorshipLeave a comment

Wednesday, 2019-05-08

Bible Reference: Proverbs 6:16-19
Translation: The Passion Translation (TPT)

Bible Text: 16 There are six evils God truly hates
and a seventh that is an abomination to him:
17 Putting others down while considering yourself superior,
spreading lies and rumors,
spilling the blood of the innocent,
18 plotting evil in your heart toward another,
gloating over doing what’s plainly wrong,
19 spouting lies in false testimony,
and stirring up strife between friends.
These are entirely despicable to God!

OBSERVATION: Wouldn’t you think that it would be everyone’s goal to please the very One that created us; the One who loves us so much that He sacrificed his very life for our salvation; the One who looks out for our very best each and every day? Let’s meditate on the thought of why God may have led Solomon to warn us about those things that He abhors. Surely we are not that evil, right?

APPLICATION: Although everything could be going really well for us, it is extremely challenging to think that anyone would despise the God of all creation. However, here in our earthly minds, how many would ever have dreamed that we would hear about a son murdering his own parents, or a daughter who would abandon her parents with no intent to visit them ever again? Or a parent that would throw their child to its death from a tall bridge? Friends, when sin (that thing that causes us to perform certain acts, and say things that are contrary to God’s initial design, and in contrast to His teachings) but when sin entered this world, it’s main purpose was to redirect our hearts and our minds away from God’s original design. Satan is it’s master designer, so his job is to redirect, steal, and misguide God’s children away from Him. Satan’s lies and deception causes us to think that there is a better way – one where we might be more powerful and better off at the end of the day. When brought into subjection by Satan, we often do the things that God abhors, that He teaches against and tries to steer us away from, for God cannot be lifted up, magnified, glorified or praised by folk under the influence of the evil one. Solomon, the author of Proverbs, tried to forewarn us about the things that God really despises, because he didn’t want us to find ourselves headed in a direction away from God, that may be extremely challenging for us to reverse. I realize that each one could read the Scripture verses for themselves, but I want to add a few comments to each of the seven things, based on my studies. Here are the things we are warned about by Solomon, that God hates: (1) Haughty, or proud eyes, belonging to one who lifts up self, at the expense of others. Jesus practiced humility to an extreme, and He wants us to do the same; (2) Being untruthful, for we will never gain the trust of our fellow man. Plus we tend to falsely accuse others through our lies; (3) Killing innocent people. I know, you’re not a murderer, right? But are you a participant or promoter of abortion. Or are you one to do everything in your power to promote ‘life’ as God has given it to us? (4) Plotting evil towards another – the Word explains that this is devising wicked schemes in our heart. Perhaps it is best to quickly seek help, as it could lead to disastrous actions; (5) Gloating over the evil you’ve done – instead of placing your head between your knees in sorrow, shame and regret over what you’ve done; (6) False Testimony – being an untrusted witness – in court, or if questioned by authorities; and (7) Stirring up strife between others – This might be friends, family or coworkers, where you have chosen to help divide, instead of bringing peace between the affected parties. Friends, no doubt you could see yourself in one or more of these seven things. Let me suggest that you speak with the God of this universe, and ask for His help, strength and guidance in overcoming the temptations of the evil one. Please join me in a desire to be more like Jesus and to follow His teachings and His will for our lives. Jesus went about doing good in every walk of life, and so should we, God being our helper!

PRAYER: Precious Lord Jesus, we, your children, have allowed the world to sway our minds and lead us into actions that You despise. As Your child, we are embarrassed and sorrowful, so we seek Your forgiveness today and ask for invaluable strength to overcome our weaknesses. Please guide us into all truth, and remind us often of the One to whom we belong, and help us to live boldly in the light of Your teachings and Your example, so that others may see and believe in the God we serve. Please speak firmly to the unsaved today, so that they may surrender their lives to You and become one with You. AMEN!