The Lord loves those who hate evil

25May
The Lord loves those who hate evil; 
he preserves the lives of his saints
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
-Psalm 97:10 


When asked to write today’s meditation, I did what I always do. I read the lectionary readings several times, hoping some verse would call to me. This week, I could not get past the reading, Psalm 97 , and the single phrase, “The Lord loves those who hate evil.” I kept reading it, and each time, I asked myself, “Who decides what is evil, and how do they know they are right?”


Historically, Christians might have used the Ten Commandments as a guide when deciding what is evil. Those are pretty straight forward… don’t steal, kill, commit adultery…. Or perhaps they would have turned to the Beatitudes, which are a little bit harder to follow.


Today, even among professed Christians, there seems to be far less consensus about what constitutes evil. People seem quicker than ever to call out “evil”, but what one group calls evil, the other calls righteous. And, each is thoroughly convinced that God hates the actions of the other.  


Given that, what is the next right thing to do? For me, I think it is to think and pray, long and hard, before declaring another evil—to focus on the log in my own eye.


Musical Reflection - Teach Me Thy Way - Maunsell Ramsey - Sarah Baute, Vocalist


Loving and merciful God, Please help me to open my heart to see others as you see them and to keep my focus on how I may change my own thoughts and actions, to make them more pleasing to you. Amen.

Evil

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