“The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.” (Proverbs 15:9, NRSV)
“Perhaps the wound is old. A parent abused you. A teacher slighted you. A mate betrayed you.… And you are angry.
Or perhaps the wound is fresh. The friend who owes you money just drove by in a new car. The boss who hired you with promises of promotions has forgotten how to pronounce your name.… And you are hurt.
Part of you is broken, and the other part is bitter. Part of you wants to cry, and part of you wants to fight.… There is a fire burning in your heart. It’s the fire of anger.…And you are left with a decision. “Do I put the fire out or heat it up? Do I get over it or get even? Do I release it or resent it? Do I let my hurts heal, or do I let hurt turn into hate?” …
Unfaithfulness is wrong. Revenge is bad. But the worst part of all is that, without forgiveness, bitterness is all that is left.” (Max Lucado, excerpt from The Applause of Heaven).
When bitterness threatens to throw you into depression or keep you perpetually angry, you have to decide what to do. You can continue to wallow in the pain and anger, or you can seek forgiveness in the matter. Wallowing in the pain will bring bitterness and resentment with a desire for revenge. These emotions will burn in your heart and soul. The only way to move past the hurt and pain is to forgive in the name of Jesus. This is the only righteous path. It is the only way you will not self-destruct over the long haul. You may not be able to get an apology or change the person who hurt you, but you will find peace and be able to move past the torment that would consume mind, heart, and soul.
The scripture for today brings to light that God “loves the one who pursues righteousness” (Proverbs 15:9). God has a place in His heart for the person who refuses to wallow in pity or dream up revenge. When you make a commitment to pursue righteousness, choosing to do what is right before God, Heaven takes notice! God keeps track of such attitudes and actions. Sadly, what God often sees in our world is the opposite. Here, people often choose “the way of the wicked” (Proverbs 15:9a). They sin. They become worldly. They get even. They pursue riches and wealth no matter who is hurt. They take advantage of others to get ahead. There is no thought of doing what is right or righteous. In Proverbs 15:9, God calls this “way of the wicked” an “abomination”. Other versions of the Bible say God “hates the way of the wicked” or “hates evil”. Yes, God can hate. When it comes to life choices. God loves those who choose righteousness but hates the way of the wicked.
It's not that God hates the wicked themselves, God hates “the way of the wicked”. God hates the evil choices and sinful reactions that so permeate our world. God endeavors to save every soul. Sadly, too many souls are filled with sin and vengeance and bitterness and resentments and so many more “ways of the wicked”.
While driving down a country road during a terrible storm late one evening, Marcia did not see the stop sign until it was too late. She slammed on the brakes but slid through the intersection. A car driving through that same crossroads hit her. When Marcia got out of her car, she was shocked to find the mother dead in the driver’s seat with a broken neck. Behind the mother was a crying young infant. Marcia had just caused a baby to lose her mother in this terrible accident.
For many years, Marcia beat herself up for this tragedy. She would tear up whenever she saw a young child. She would have flashbacks during her dreams. She lived through those moments a thousand times in her head. I asked Marcia, “Are you ever going to forgive yourself?” Her response, “I don’t think so.”
When Marcia turned forty-five, she received a letter in the mail from an unknown sender one Christmas. She opened the letter and began reading. As her husband watched her read, wondering who sent the pretty Christmas card, Marcia began to weep openly. She cried so hard and for so long that her husband thought she was going to pass out. He tried everything to calm her. Then, he read the letter. It was from a woman in her twenties named Candice. Candice was the baby in that back seat who lost her mother in the accident years before. Fearful that the letter would bring back all those terrible memories, the husband hurriedly finished the letter. Near the end, Candice wrote that for years she had hated Marcia for the death of her mother. However, she had recently become a Christian. She couldn’t make things right with God while harboring such hate for Marcia. In the letter, Candice wrote that before she went to the altar to give her heart to Jesus, she forgave Marcia with all her heart.
The tears coming from Marcia weren’t signs of hurt and pain, they were tears of relief. For once in her life, Marcia began to feel the possibility of forgiving herself for that terrible accident. Candice’s Christmas letter brought the first glimpse of hope and forgiveness to Marcia’s long-suffering soul. Candice gave an awesome gift to Marcia that Christmas. It was pure righteousness. It was something God loved. Finally, healing could begin.
The way of the wicked brings sadness, pain, guilt, shame, hopelessness, vengeance, fear, resentment, and bitterness, and more. The way of righteousness brings healing and hope and forgiveness and peace and restoration. Which kind of world do you want to live in? Which kind of person have you become?
If there is a “way of the wicked” in you, rid heart and soul and mind of its presence. Choose righteousness. Choose forgiveness and grace and redemption and hope. Be an agent of God is this fallen world. Don’t let your heart and soul and mind be clouded with all kinds of residue from unresolved hate or resentment or bitterness or suffering or abuse. Choose to forgive. Move on past. Let it go. Choose Jesus above the hurt. Confess your sin instead of holding on to your guilt. The alternative will only lead to heartbreak… for another… and for you.
Or perhaps the wound is fresh. The friend who owes you money just drove by in a new car. The boss who hired you with promises of promotions has forgotten how to pronounce your name.… And you are hurt.
Part of you is broken, and the other part is bitter. Part of you wants to cry, and part of you wants to fight.… There is a fire burning in your heart. It’s the fire of anger.…And you are left with a decision. “Do I put the fire out or heat it up? Do I get over it or get even? Do I release it or resent it? Do I let my hurts heal, or do I let hurt turn into hate?” …
Unfaithfulness is wrong. Revenge is bad. But the worst part of all is that, without forgiveness, bitterness is all that is left.” (Max Lucado, excerpt from The Applause of Heaven).
When bitterness threatens to throw you into depression or keep you perpetually angry, you have to decide what to do. You can continue to wallow in the pain and anger, or you can seek forgiveness in the matter. Wallowing in the pain will bring bitterness and resentment with a desire for revenge. These emotions will burn in your heart and soul. The only way to move past the hurt and pain is to forgive in the name of Jesus. This is the only righteous path. It is the only way you will not self-destruct over the long haul. You may not be able to get an apology or change the person who hurt you, but you will find peace and be able to move past the torment that would consume mind, heart, and soul.
The scripture for today brings to light that God “loves the one who pursues righteousness” (Proverbs 15:9). God has a place in His heart for the person who refuses to wallow in pity or dream up revenge. When you make a commitment to pursue righteousness, choosing to do what is right before God, Heaven takes notice! God keeps track of such attitudes and actions. Sadly, what God often sees in our world is the opposite. Here, people often choose “the way of the wicked” (Proverbs 15:9a). They sin. They become worldly. They get even. They pursue riches and wealth no matter who is hurt. They take advantage of others to get ahead. There is no thought of doing what is right or righteous. In Proverbs 15:9, God calls this “way of the wicked” an “abomination”. Other versions of the Bible say God “hates the way of the wicked” or “hates evil”. Yes, God can hate. When it comes to life choices. God loves those who choose righteousness but hates the way of the wicked.
It's not that God hates the wicked themselves, God hates “the way of the wicked”. God hates the evil choices and sinful reactions that so permeate our world. God endeavors to save every soul. Sadly, too many souls are filled with sin and vengeance and bitterness and resentments and so many more “ways of the wicked”.
While driving down a country road during a terrible storm late one evening, Marcia did not see the stop sign until it was too late. She slammed on the brakes but slid through the intersection. A car driving through that same crossroads hit her. When Marcia got out of her car, she was shocked to find the mother dead in the driver’s seat with a broken neck. Behind the mother was a crying young infant. Marcia had just caused a baby to lose her mother in this terrible accident.
For many years, Marcia beat herself up for this tragedy. She would tear up whenever she saw a young child. She would have flashbacks during her dreams. She lived through those moments a thousand times in her head. I asked Marcia, “Are you ever going to forgive yourself?” Her response, “I don’t think so.”
When Marcia turned forty-five, she received a letter in the mail from an unknown sender one Christmas. She opened the letter and began reading. As her husband watched her read, wondering who sent the pretty Christmas card, Marcia began to weep openly. She cried so hard and for so long that her husband thought she was going to pass out. He tried everything to calm her. Then, he read the letter. It was from a woman in her twenties named Candice. Candice was the baby in that back seat who lost her mother in the accident years before. Fearful that the letter would bring back all those terrible memories, the husband hurriedly finished the letter. Near the end, Candice wrote that for years she had hated Marcia for the death of her mother. However, she had recently become a Christian. She couldn’t make things right with God while harboring such hate for Marcia. In the letter, Candice wrote that before she went to the altar to give her heart to Jesus, she forgave Marcia with all her heart.
The tears coming from Marcia weren’t signs of hurt and pain, they were tears of relief. For once in her life, Marcia began to feel the possibility of forgiving herself for that terrible accident. Candice’s Christmas letter brought the first glimpse of hope and forgiveness to Marcia’s long-suffering soul. Candice gave an awesome gift to Marcia that Christmas. It was pure righteousness. It was something God loved. Finally, healing could begin.
The way of the wicked brings sadness, pain, guilt, shame, hopelessness, vengeance, fear, resentment, and bitterness, and more. The way of righteousness brings healing and hope and forgiveness and peace and restoration. Which kind of world do you want to live in? Which kind of person have you become?
If there is a “way of the wicked” in you, rid heart and soul and mind of its presence. Choose righteousness. Choose forgiveness and grace and redemption and hope. Be an agent of God is this fallen world. Don’t let your heart and soul and mind be clouded with all kinds of residue from unresolved hate or resentment or bitterness or suffering or abuse. Choose to forgive. Move on past. Let it go. Choose Jesus above the hurt. Confess your sin instead of holding on to your guilt. The alternative will only lead to heartbreak… for another… and for you.