Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. Therefore, do not become their partners. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light-for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth-discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.      Ephesians 5:6-10 HCSB

I often post the Scripture as it relates to my blog because I know that if you are busy, you may not take the time to look it up in the Bible. I try to keep it brief because I realize that many are busy and don’t have a lot of time. But I strongly encourage you to take time to read all of Ephesians 5. It begins with talking about sexual immorality, impurity, greed, idolatry and all those sinful behaviors that we need to avoid.

In our Scripture passage Paul is warning the church at Ephesus not to be deceived and not to participate in sinful behavior. He goes on in verses 11 and 12 warning them not to participate in the fruitless works of the darkness, but to expose them. He tells them it is shameful to even mention what is done by them in secret.

Are you old enough to remember when the things that make front page news today were shameful? Can you remember a time when the commercials on television were ones that you could watch without being embarrassed? Can you remember a time when you could sit with your family and watch primetime tv and not have to worry about what your children were seeing? But now, it’s no big deal.

Now we get these shameful things shoved down our throat everywhere we turn. Our pastor often reminds us that the devil is the prince of the airways. This includes the television, the radio, and the internet.

I am nauseated by commercials that play throughout the day and the things they promote. I encourage you to look up One Million Moms and join them. They are a watchdog group that watches for these things and circulates petitions to try to get them stopped. At least they give us a chance to voice our concern and expose them as Paul commanded us to do.

God’s word tells us in Proverbs 6:16-19 that there are 7 things that the LORD hates. They include a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are quick to run to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among the brethren. My friend if God hates these things, we need to hate them as well. We must love the sinner, but we must hate the sin. Sin is a big deal.

Many other things are considered an abomination to the Lord. Leviticus 18:22 includes homosexuality and states that it is an abomination to the LORD. Proverbs 11:20 mentions a crooked heart. Proverbs 17:15 says that whoever justifies the wicked and condemns the righteous is an abomination to the LORD. Proverbs 11:1 says that a false balance is an abomination to the LORD.

It’s not rocket science, Jesus explains to us in Matthew 22:37-39 that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind. He tells us that we are also to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. He tells us that by doing this we will fulfill all the commandments. If we truly love the Lord, we will want to be obedient to Him. We will love what He loves and hate what He hates.

But instead, what we are seeing today is a nationwide celebration of pride (which is an abomination to the LORD-Proverbs 16:18) in sinful behavior like homosexuality (which is also an abomination to the LORD-Leviticus 18:22). You can’t make this stuff up.

Sin has become no big deal in our nation today. My friend the Bible clearly tells us it’s a big deal to Jesus. He suffered a horrible death to save us from our sin. But, we are living in a nation that celebrates sin, it just can’t get enough of it. Cities are destroyed over the death of a man, but no one cares when babies are murdered.

Romans 1:24 tells us that there will come a time when God will simply give sinners over to their sinful cravings and allow them to degrade themselves. For Him it’s a big deal.

Any sin is a big deal. Today I want you to take a look at those things that God hates. Are you guilty of even one of them? You can confess your sin to God and repent. Please don’t be deceived into thinking it’s no big deal because to God any unrepentant sin in our heart is a big deal. Please confess to Him and repent of your sin today.

Have a great day!