Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Proverbs 6:16-19 -- On Things to Avoid

"These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
Proverbs 6:16-19


These are some good verses for understanding what *not* to do. :)  I think sometimes we don't take some of these things seriously enough, but maybe understanding that they are on a list of things that the Lord hates will help us avoid them more diligently. :)

It is interesting that the Lord doesn't just condemn pride here, but a "proud look."  As with other things, we should "abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22), and we have to internalize our humility... feeling it, not just acting it.

Lying tongues and false witnesses that speak lies are condemned, and I think we probably could all improve in this area as well.  It's tempting to pretend we know things or kind of skip over the truth sometimes to avoid embarrassment, to look good, or to win.  Good things to watch out for.

Hearts that devise wicked imaginations is an interesting one.  Sometimes we try to separate thought and action and believe that our imaginations and our fictions are safe ways to explore "the dark side," but we forget that the Lord has told us "as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7).  Our thoughts and imaginations are part of us, and they become us, and eventually leak into our actions if that is what we keep loading up in our minds.  To become more like God, we have to change our actions *and* our thoughts and desires.

Today, let's avoid doing these things that God is specifically warning us against.  Let's not run to mischief or sow discord, or harm others.  Let's instead build each other up, sowing peace, and running to do good thing and help and serve.  Let's be more like God, and allow God to help us become our best selves.

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