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Psalm 5:4 says,
“O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked. ”
This was written when David was fleeing his son who was trying to kill him. David was pressed, anxious and maybe even a little fearful but he still turned to God. David was praying to God.
Notice the verse doesn’t say, ” hate the wicked.” It says hate their behavior, their, “wickedness.” The phrase, “hate the sin, don’t hate the sinner,” is similar. People will will disappoint (like I do), they let us down (like I have), and they behave poorly towards others, (and I still do), but that is not the person. That is their poor behavior from bad decision making.
I look around today and understand more and more what Christ Jesus said while he hung on that cross for me, you, and everyone who believes who He is and what He has done for us, in Luke 23:34, But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
The fleshly-seekers of this world think they are in charge, but He is sovereign over all as 1 Timothy 6:15 states,
15 which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
This allows me to understand that poor behavior should be expected. It is not a matter of if it will be displayed, but a matter of when it will be displayed. Yes, I abhor the behavior I see in this world today. Do I abhor the one displaying the behavior? No, I don’t. For that person has no clue. They are clueless. Therefore, I can see them for who they are, lost, confused, or even fallen from their faith in Christ Jesus. I have compassion for them and can now pray fervently for them. Asking God to soften their hearts, to turn away from their sins guided by the evil one, and turn towards God, the author and finisher of our faith, the Alpha and the Omega, the ruler of all. Detest the behavior, but not detest the one behaving that way. ?
