July 8, 2025 -- Proverbs 8:13a -- Hatred of Evil

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The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil.
Proverbs 8:13a ESV
 
Paul and Silas, when they preached the Gospel to the Philippian jailor, declared, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Salvation is found in the Name of Jesus. Even Old Testament believers are saved through the work of Jesus Christ. Those who are saved are said to fear the LORD. That is a strange expression for us. I touched on it in yesterday’s devotion. Even the most law-abiding citizen realizes how his heart chafes against rules he doesn’t like and the most moderate sorry-saying Canadian can get behind an “elbows up” campaign so that their hearts become tuned to resentment against others. Our hearts are idol factories. The chief idol is self. One’s own wants, desires, and pleasures.
 
When one believes in the Lord Jesus Christ his heart is changed. The King who sits on the throne in the centre of a Christian’s life is Jesus. Self, the tyrant, who used to make demands, imperially expecting every wish to be fulfilled has been deposed. Jesus has made the believer His own and the believers longs to be more fully Christ’s.
 
A common question posed by those who are being drawn to Jesus relates to former sins and learning to own one’s current allegiance to Jesus. There are all kinds of shades and nuances related to such question. Where evil is entertained, toyed with, but not hated, the consequences will be dire. Here are some examples of questions posed:

  • My girlfriend isn’t a Christian now, but she is interested in religious things, is that okay? No. It isn’t. To belong to Jesus is to be married to Him. In the Old Testament God called out those who didn’t fully believe in Him as prostitutes. They sold themselves out to other gods. It is graphic. It is clear.

  • My girlfriend is a Christian, we’re sleeping together, but we’re not married. Is that a problem? Yes it is. You are saying I want to be naked and vulnerable, but I want to keep my options open. I want to have the pleasure of sex without the commitment of heart vulnerability and commitment that must go along with it. You are saying you are wiser than God Who made you and instructs you not to have sex before marriage.

  • What about movies and series, video games, media and music? Do I have to censure what I watch? Of course you do. The fact you are asking the question means your conscience is waking up. It is sad that the very same believers who can easily binge-watch shows are also struggling to read the Bible. Social media and gaming are not designed to help build you up in your precious faith. In fact, you know that all such activities are designed to draw your attention in to the exclusion of other things.

Ask yourself this, what pleasure or activity or aspiration or possession do you have which, if you were asked to give it up to honour Jesus, would cause you to clutch it even tighter? My guess is that you’ve landed on the idol that is interfering with your walk with God.
 
The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil precisely because the LORD is greater than anything this world has to offer. The fear of the LORD leads the believer to embrace Jesus not merely as a wonderful addition to one’s life. Jesus is the source of pleasure, the director of all activities, the soul’s great aspiration and your soul’s greatest treasure. This matter of hating evil must be revisited time and again in the life of the believer. Sin is insidious. Before you know it, a little harmless-seeming activity has overgrown your thoughts and is crowding out good in your life. The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil precisely because the LORD, Who is holy, hates evil. Those who love Him, desire to be more fully like Him.
 
Faithful Father in heaven, You are very great and worthy to be praised. By Your Spirit’s powerful presence in me, assist me to make a probing search of my life, my mind and my goals so that any lingering sin will be ruthlessly rooted out. Recognizing that sin has deep taproots, help me to dig out even to the root-tips thus ensuring it will not easily spring up within me again. Spirit of God, lead me in renewed, vigorous devotion to Jesus. Spirit of God, so transform me that Jesus is the source of my life’s pleasure, the director of all activities, my soul’s aspiration and my soul’s prize. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/a91_3VYRiZo?si=8Y5Po8vWOQBd5EqZ Fill Thou My Life
 

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