Dear Ones,
Hope you are keeping cool and weren’t hit by storms last night. This morning Al will be going to Men’s group, and I am going to do some baking. It is Donut Day here and Bible study this afternoon.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Do we hate evil? We are told in Psalm 97 that if we want to please the Lord we will hate evil, for it goes against all of whom God is. Verse 9 & 10 say, “For you, O lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. The Lord loves those who hate evil; He guards the lives of his faithful; He rescues them from the hand of the wicked.”  What struck me today was the importance of loving what God loves but also hating what God hates.

 When you think of our culture today, many who others admire are not people who line up with the Lord but are focused on self and violate God’s commands. Yet we may follow them online or buy things with their logo and sing their songs that oppose God’s Word. That should not be. Just think recently of the Olympics and the depiction that was made of the Lord’s supper that makes a mockery of Jesus’ last night with His disciples. We are to hate such actions that are evil and stand for what is good.

It takes courage today to stand up for what is right, even when those around us are applauding those who do evil and get ahead by unrighteous means. In the Message translation verse 10 says, “God loves all who hate evil. And those who love Him He keeps safe, snatches them from the grip of the wicked.” When we go along with the culture in supporting evil things, our first desire is not to please God. But when we choose to love what God loves it says in verse 11, “Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God’s people, Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil.”  If we stand for what is right, and don’t bow down to evil, our souls will feel light and full of joy for we please the Lord. Let us not compromise but hate evil and love good.

Challenge for today: Before you embrace something questionable, stop and pray and choose to stand for good, not evil.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy