What Does God Love? - Crosswalk the Devotional - November 17

Truths observed at the intersection of faith and life by Crosswalk.com editors [Crosswalk.com Logo]( Crosswalk: The Devotional [Devotionals]( [Newsletters]( [e-Cards]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( What Does God Love? by Debbie Holloway I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave ([Psalms 86:12](. There is a very famous passage in Proverbs detailing what God hates. Indeed, throughout the [Bible]( God never shows reluctance to speak against behaviors he finds detestable. This should come as no surprise to us, being that he is holy and man has amassed a large amount of sinful tendencies since he first came into the world. But what does God love? While avoiding the “bad” list – is there a “good” list toward which we can be working? Let’s dissect [Proverbs 6:16]( to discern the things which God loves. God hates “haughty eyes.” Therefore, God loves eyes which gaze with humility. Not a false or broken humility of despising oneself, but a genuine, Christ-like choice to serve others, not draw undue attention to oneself, and treat others with great honor and respect. God hates “a lying tongue.” Therefore, God loves a tongue which speaks truth. Note that this does not say a brash tongue, or a loud tongue, or a tongue which speaks its opinion at any and every possible moment. Rather, he loves a tongue which, when it does speak, values honesty and artlessness. God hates “hands that shed innocent blood.” Therefore, God loves hands which protect the innocent. Throughout Scripture, God’s compassion for the defenseless and the innocent is clear. He commends his children (in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Covenant) to protect the defenseless ([Psalm 82:3-4]( welcome the alien ([Matthew 25:35]( care for the widow ([James 1:27]( defend the orphan ([Deut. 24:17]( and mourn with those who are mourning ([Romans 12:15](. We are to be peaceful citizens, not bloodthirsty citizens, and our hands should therefore strive to protect innocence. God hates “a heart that devises wicked plans.” Therefore, God loves a heart which devises good and righteous plans. God loves our desires to serve, our desires to help, our desires to minister. When our hearts long to carry out God’s plans for goodness, righteousness, and peace, it delights him. God hates “feet that run rapidly to evil.” [CONTINUE READING →]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( You May Also Like: [10 Prayers for Before Meals - Short, Simple, Beautiful!]( Meg Bucher Praying God’s blessing over our meals is a simple way to make a big difference on the daily alignment of our hearts. [CONTINUE READING →]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [10 Things Christians Forget When They Leave Church Sunday Morning]( Lindsey VanSparrentak We’ve gotten into the habit of putting our spiritual lives into a box labeled “Sunday Mornings Only!” that gets put back on the shelf the second we get home from church. [CONTINUE READING →]( [Crosswalk.com Logo]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Unsubscribe From This Email]( [Email Preference Center]( | [View in Browser]( © 2020 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 500, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Crosswalk.com - The Devotional. [Link](