Nougat 22

Sometimes it seems that we forget Who God is and how God operates. In those moments our actions suggest that we are not accountable to God or God’s plan for our lives. I pray that as we reflect on today’s Holy Nougat, we are drawn to obedience and reverence of our Living God.

“For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Unwelcome

Let’s not beat around the bush – God doesn’t like evil. A friend of mine from the African American tradition rephrases it saying, ‘God don’t like ugly’. That ‘ugly’ usually refers to intentional injustice or sinful behavior, which in her estimation, will receive their reward.

In Psalm 5, David is lamenting about the situation he faces, inviting God’s intervention. He further ‘justifies’ his plea to God by reminding God that God abhors evil. Evil, says David, is unwelcome in God’s presence. While we hold this to be true, it may seem contradictory to what we experience as daily reality. And, oh how such undiluted evil must be painful to God!

While typing, I’m reminded of that line in the Lord’s Prayer: ’Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in Heaven.’ For me, this helps explain why evil still continues this side of eternity. Until Jesus Christ returns, much of what occurs on earth is due to human actions, which isn’t always selfless. Even for us believers. Moreover, we do not always stand in the authority vested on us by God, and so we don’t always renounce evil in our midst.

It may be that we don’t want to seem ‘square’ to others, that we’re connected to the perpetrator (we might even be the perpetrator), or we feel it’s not our domain. But, if evil is unwelcome in God’s presence, then so it ought to be with us. How often do we ensure that evil feels unwelcome in our midst?

Of course, if we struggle with our own selfishness and participate in evil, it is a challenge for us to boldly approach God’s throne of Grace, as we have some confession and denouncing to do. We might also be less inclined to confront others since we live in ‘glass houses’. I recommend a life of confession and of dedication to God that allows us to speak out with God’s authority, even when we aren’t perfect.

Lord, may we abhor evil and cleave to that which is good; ensuring that evil is totally unwelcome wherever we are. In so doing, may Your kingdom come on earth and Your will be done here as in Heaven. This is our prayer in Jesus’ name, amen.

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May all we seek be found in Christ