May 28th

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Proverbs 5-7

Scripture
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked shcemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19

Observation
God hates haughtiness, lying, murdering, scheming, eagerness to do wrong, a false witness, stirring up dissension.

Application
We often tend to put sin into categories - big sins and little sins. And it is true that there are more serious consequences for some sins than others, both for ourselves and those around us.

And yet, this passage also reminds us that sin is sin.

God hates haughtiness? God hates lying? God hates stirring up dissension? I'm not a murderer, I'm not a schemer, I'm not eager to do wrong and I have not been a false witness (well, maybe as a kid getting another kid in trouble - but I dare say I'm guilty of the other 3 at at least one point in my life. None of these are things I do on a regular basis, but I don't think there is a human on this planet that hasn't lied at least once.

But lying is in the same list as murder. Sin is sin.

We can't excuse our sin because it's a "little" one. It's either right or wrong.

Though there are some genuine gray area in life, I think we try to make the black and white issues appear gray in order to excuse our little sins. But guess what? We don't get to decide what's right and what's wrong. Society would certainly try to convince you of that fact. But it's a lie. As always, we need to go back to the Word. We need to study it, we need to meditate on it, we need to know and understand what it says so that we will not be swayed by popular opinion or secular worldview or anything else.

Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word. Thank You that You have given us the truth, that You ARE truth. Thank You that You have laid things out for us, that You have made your expectations clear. Give us a thirst for Your Word. Help us to treasure it, and to mine it as for precious diamonds. Help us not to be content with "small" sin in our lives. Help us to root out anything that hinders our relationship with You. Amen.

Tomorrow's passage: Proverbs 8-10