Shalom,
Proverbs 8:10-13:
10 Receive my instruction in preference to [striving for] silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 For skillful and godly Wisdom is better than rubies or pearls, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. 12 I, Wisdom [from God], make prudence my dwelling, and I find out knowledge and discretion. 13 The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the LORD [includes] the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate.
If we say that we really love the LORD, but do not hate what is evil, we lie! This does not mean we hate the people, but we hate the very nature of evil! If you can condone abortion, or even look the other way, you do not truly love the LORD Jesus! It is NOT possible! That does not mean that we won't sin (make a selfish decision to do something our own way instead of God's way), but we WILL regret it if we truly love HIM! The more that we get to know Him, the more we realize that without Him we are nothing! There is no room for pride and arrogance when nothing good about us is of our own doing! We see that the LORD also hates perverted and twisted speech. This isn't necessarily referring to "cussing" as we know it, but it refers to using the Word of God in a way that is contrary to what it actually says. When God says that is it His desire that we prosper and be in health (3 John 2), He hates when people say that it may not be God's will to heal! When Jesus points out very clearly and plainly the difference between His purpose and the devil's (John 10:10 AMP), it is perverted and twisted to wonder if sickness and disease, or natural disasters, are "acts of God". Don't pervert the Word of God to fit YOU theology! Repent (change YOUR thinking to agree with God) and believe God's Word! His Word IS Truth (John 17:17)! Here is Hillsong United with "Search My Heart":
Revelation 14 begins in Heaven with rejoicing over those who were redeemed. It ends with the "harvest" of the evil world's system from the earth. These things may sound poetic and and as a fantasy, but every Word is very real and WILL come to pass! The entire Book of Revelation should inspire us to do all that we can, for as long as we have left here on earth! With every believer in Jesus of Nazareth doing their own individual part, God's will will be done and we will be pleasing to Him as good and faithful servants of God!
In Ezra 1-2 we see King Cyrus moved by the LORD to release the captives and commission the rebuilding to the Temple. I found this interesting from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
"The hero was a big man," wrote Daniel Boorstin; "the celebrity is a big name."
In God's Hall of Heroes are the names of nearly 50,000 Jews who in 538 B.C. left captivity in Babylon for responsibility in Jerusalem. God had called them back home to do a difficult job: to rebuild the temple and the city and restore the Jewish community in their own land. This noble venture involved a four months' journey plus a great deal of faith, courage, and sacrifice; and even after they arrived in the Holy City, life didn't get any easier. But as you read the inspired record, you can see the providential leading of the Lord from start to finish; and "if God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31).
What God has called you to do, He also has equipped you to do, but that does not mean that it will be easy! There will always be opposition from the enemy to carry out God's plan on the earth. Be prepared for diligence, but rest in HIS ability to carry out the work! Amen!
Shalom in Him!
