Things God Hates

Yes, God hates. In Proverbs 6, there is a list of things that God hates. Want to know what they are? These are found in verses 16-19---seven things God hates:
1)proud (arrogant) eyes,
2) a lying tongue,
3)murderers,
4)hearts that plot deceitful schemes,
5)feet that run quickly to trouble,
6)false witness who pours out lies,
7)man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Now, some of these we would consider worse than the others. But, Proverbs tells us that God hates them all. The lying tongue, the false witness who pours out lies-like a faucet, the man who stirs up trouble--these are things that most of us struggle with from time to time. As I was reading this morning, I read in Proverbs and Ephesians. Cross these scriptures from Proverbs with Ephesians 4:29-32
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Proverbs tells us that God hates a liar, one who runs to tell lies and He hates one who stirs up trouble. Look at Ephesians. Whatever is in our hearts come right out of our mouths. Any ugliness in there cannot stay in. Bitterness, rage and anger, slander...these come crawling out of our mouths in the form of unwholesome talk. YUCK!!! Ephesians also tells us that this grieves the Holy Spirit. They fall into the category of things God hates. When we are tearing others down, this is a form of pride (proud eyes)---when we are being untruthful even in the smallest way, this is lying, being a false witness---when unwholeome talk comes out of our mouths, this certainly does not build up, but tears down and causes dissension.

May I be one who pleases the Lord, may I not fit into the category of things God hates. Instead of ugliness, may I be kind and compassionate, quick to forgive, may I build others up and exude the love Christ has given me, not the ugliness that comes from my human nature.