Devotion for Tuesday, September 3, 2019

“I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.  Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me,
and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in
the way everlasting.”  (Psalm 139:22-24)

In the mixed up way in which
this world thinks, we often think of our faith in terms of the world rather
than in terms of what the Lord has said. 
Christians do not hate others. 
Hate the sin, the wickedness and the actions of wicked men.  Yes, each person is loved by God, but do not
let the world get into your thinking so that you would accept what is
unacceptable.  In other words, lean on
the Lord mightily.

Lord, I do not know how to do this. 
Yes, I know how to become sinfully angry at my neighbor.  I know how to think wicked thoughts.  But lead me away from my thoughts and into
Your thoughts.  Lead me to love You and
all that You have created such that I see things through Your eyes.  Guide me to know Your goodness by practicing
it and doing what is pleasing in Your sight.

Lord Jesus, You demonstrated the
full range of emotions in Your ministry. 
You have created us in Your image. 
Teach me what is right and what is wrong.  Teach me the places to be and where not to be
that it would be You who defines my faith and not the wicked in this
world.  Guide me according to Your
goodness to come into Your grace and mercy and reside there all the days of my
life.  Amen.

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