Day 106 - Healthy Hate

"In church tonight Pastor Jim brought up such a good point for Christians and ministers. We need to be afraid to go back to where our failures have led us. In other words the things which we stumble in we should avoid. The Bible says to flee youthful lusts and avoid even the appearance of evil. Jude said to hate the garment stained with sin. Such strong vivid language and yet we play by the mud hole and expect to stay clean."

Our society has made hate such a bad thing. But if we hate evil then we will love good. It is such a simple concept and yet many struggle with it. I don't mind hating evil. Evil destroys people who Jesus died for. Evil breaks up marriages and leaves children without parents. Evil lands people in jails and hospital beds. I hate it. 

The Bible says we are to hate evil and cling to good. To hate something takes a willful opposition and bold moves against it. If I hate evil then anything contrary to the way of God will be my personal vendetta. I will shun it, run it out of my house, warn others about it, talk bad about it, get angry at it when it surfaces, and do everything in my power to keep it out of my life. 

How do you oppose evil? What other scriptures can help with this? 

Day 53 - Drugs and Losses

"A man who used to be involved in our ministry met me after church. He has been on and off drugs for months. Mostly on. He was wearing a tattered shirt and he was very thin. He said hello and tried not to cuss. Eventually he did while he was talking about things he was seeing because of the drugs. I asked him if he was staying clean and he said no. He told me that God told him to smoke dope. I told him that God would never violate his Word and smoking dope was against the law and against the Word so God would not have told him to smoke dope. He kind of clammed up after that but he did ask why he was seeing things coming out of his hands and stuff written on them. I told him that the drugs had opened his eyes to the spirit realm and that he needed to get clean. He expressed his love and shook my hand. I saw him out by the burned down meth lab house by the entrance to the church sitting by the gutter drain. My heart broke for him. I recalled another drugged out guy who was standing in the lawn there staring off in to the distance. He probably had no idea I was driving by. I went into prayer and intercession for him."

I hate this post. I hate it because one of our people who had victory over drugs went back to it. I hate the devil and I hate evil. I hate the fact that this man's life and family and future have been ruined. 

This man isn't the only one. I know many who have went back to the things they left to follow Christ. We cannot afford to play with sin and evil. The old saying that he who plays near the mud hole will eventually fall in is true. If you play with fire you will get burned. 

We have to watch what we are watching, guard our hearts and make sure that we have godly relationships. Accountability, disciplines of church attendance, prayer and the Word of God are all so important. Not just going through the motions of dead religion but a personal and passionate relationship with the Living God. 

I am still praying for that man to return and the he be saved. I pray for you. I pray for myself.

How can we guard against slipping back into old ways? What has kept you strong in your relationship with the Lord?