FAITH CAPSULE: One cannot love God and not hate evil.

Genesis 39

Joseph’s demonstration of his love for God and his hate for evil also defines loving God. Joseph, from the pit to slavery had an opportunity to get a temporary breakthrough when he was in Potiphar’s house as a slave. He could have become the object of his master’s wife when she could not resist from asking Joseph to lie with her. Joseph’s excuse not to take on his master’s wife was, “…how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God.” (Genesis 39:9) Joseph was concerned about his love for God and refused to enter into a way that seemed right for breakthrough. Every time our love for God overrides our love for self, heaven would be provoked for our lifting up. For Joseph, favor could not depart from him because he loved His God and demonstrated His love for God by not giving in to Potiphar’s wife.
It is absolutely impossible to claim any love for God and not be a hater of evil acts. One cannot love God and not hate evil. In this world, wickedness is present all around us. Wickedness and evil go together hand in hand; the two cannot be separated from each other. If a believer should engage any wicked act or evil acts, it is an indication that such believer does not have God’s love dwelling on the inside of them. With love for God, evil act should always be approached with constant rebuke. The word of God buttress, Psalm 97:10, “You who love the Lord, hate evil!”  Proverbs 8:13, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.” Romans 12:9, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”  Are you an acclaimed believer that embraces any type of evil act consciously or unconsciously?
Loving God means loving your brother. The word of God helps us to realize that it is not possible to claim our love for God when we do not love our brother. It also pointed out that he who does not love does not know God. Above all, 1John 3:14 stated that, he who does not love his brother abides in death. In order to have life, loving God is a must not a choice. Loving God is not a temporary engagement but demands continuity.
Do you know God or do you know about God?  
The knowledge of God is to love and know Him. It is not possible to love Him which you do not know. Loving God cannot happen without knowing God. Spending time in the word of God is the major route to knowing Him.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to love Him with all your heart.