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Psalm 97:8-12
Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, LORD. For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.

Many times our emotions are riled by things that are not really that important. We get angry when we’re stuck in traffic. We get ticked off when our car won’t start or our garage door opener quits working. We fume when we get another annoying telemarketing call. Think about the last thing that revved up your emotions. Was it worth all that emotion?

Believers are called to pour out their passion against one thing – evil. “Let those who love the Lord hate evil.” “Evil” describes the sexual sins that lead to prostitution, sex trafficking and rape. “Evil” describes governments starving their people and rampages of ethnic cleansing. “Evil” describes the persecution and killing of Christians around the world.

But don’t stop there. We should also hate and avoid the evil that desires to trap and destroy us. Envy, jealousy, hatred, adultery, addictions, pornography, breaking of vows, lying, stealing, and . . . the list goes on. We must hate the evil in our own lives as much as we hate the evil we see in the world.

Father, shine Your light on my passions. Show me if my emotions are spent on the right things. Help me recognize evil in my own life. Help me to hate it. Help me to uproot it. Help me walk in the light of the right path and experience Your joy all along the way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.