Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The word abomination means
something that is detestable or repulsive. I can think of
few things that are more detestable than something that smells putrid
or rotten. When we encounter such an odor,
we generally turn our heads, and if it is bad enough, we might
even walk away from it. Our facial expressions register
disgust, and our actions indicate that we are extremely displeased.
Such is the way that Solomon describes the Lord's consideration
of some particular sins. Now the scripture is plain that
God hates all sin. Thou art of purer eyes than to
behold evil and canst not look on iniquity. For thou art not
a God that hath pleasure in wickedness, neither shall evil dwell with
thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight, thou hatest all
workers of iniquity. Yet these particular sins that
Solomon mentions are so detestable in the Lord's sight that they
are called an abomination or a foul odor unto him. We know
that the definition of sin is not simply the actual committing
of such in our fleshly bodies, but more importantly, the contemplation
of these actions in our minds. The Lord Jesus said, but I say
unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her
hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. It
would do us well to be acquainted with these activities which are
so reprehensible in our Lord's sight that we might avoid these
pitfalls at all cost. Paul said, I keep under my body
and bring it into subjection, lest by any means when I preach
to others I myself should be a castaway. What are these extremely
disgusting sins? Number one is a proud look. When
we're lifted up in our own minds and consider that the things
we possess or have become are the result of our own endeavor.
Paul said, for who maketh thee to differ from another? And what
hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive
it, why didst thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
Number two is a lying tongue. A lying tongue often follows
a proud look. If we cannot honestly examine
our own selves, we are apt to speak words which are hurtful
and destructive. Most lies begin with our desire to impress others.
Whether it's in a quest to build ourselves up in the eyes of others,
or to gain for ourselves a following. As Paul warned the Ephesian elders,
there shall be false teachers among you who privilege shall
bring in damnable heresies. When we depart from the truth,
we are surely on the pathway that leads to destruction. Number
three is hands that shed innocent blood. All men deserve to die
because all have sinned, yet murder is forbidden in the Ten
Commandments. It is not the taking of human life that is hated by
God, but the slaying of the innocent is that which is a foul odor
in his sight. Some people by their actions
deserve to die immediately. Those who have murdered, raped,
broken into homes with intent to harm the occupants, sought
to unjustly overthrow governments, or in general have no regard
for the lives of others fall into this category. But even
the act of hatred against others who are not in this group is
the same as murder. But I say unto you, love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate
you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute
you. Number four is a heart that deviseth
wicked imaginations. The thoughts of a man's heart
is often on sin, and iniquity waits closely to spread its snares
upon us. Yet when we dwell on these sinful
thoughts and devise plans whereby we can carry them out, we are
acting in a very odious way before God. There hath no temptation
taken you, but such as is common to man. But God will with the
temptation also make a way to escape. Let not sin therefore
reign in your moral body, that ye should obey it in the lust
thereof. Number five is feet that are swift to run to mischief.
If entertaining thoughts of sin are odious before God, then the
actual committing of those sins is even worse. We are to be circumspect
and analyze everything we do. Anger often causes men to act
swiftly without taking due time for consideration. He that is
slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth
his spirit than he that taketh a city. He that is soon angry
dealeth foolishly. Number six, a false witness that
speaketh lies. As bad as telling lies to benefit
ourselves is, telling lies that harm others is even worse. To
tell untruths about someone else in order to injure that person's
reputation is the same as murder. A false witness shall not be
unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. And the seventh
abomination before God is sowing discord among the brethren. We
are to love one another with pure hearts fervently. How then
can we seek to divide one another? Christ loved his own unto the
end. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.