God hates?

This weekend was a very special weekend in my life. Camp Arise was such a blessing. Words cannot express enough what God did in the lives of our youth.

 

In this camp our youth were able to experience a new dimension of worship. We praised God in spirit and in truth and the Holy Spirit moved powerfully. Young people were set free from oppression and delivered from self-destructive habits.

On Saturday morning we shared a devotional on God's love. To be honest, I've been Christin for thirteen years and have heard ALOT of messages on God's love. I myself have preached about God's love on many occasions; but never have I seen so clearly an aspect of God's love that He revealed to me at camp.

John 3:16 says that God so loved us... and I'm sure you know how the rest of the verse goes. He loved us so much that He gave of Himself and died on the cross for us. But God revealed a truth that pierced my heart and filled me with an even greater love and appreciation for Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

This verse shows us that when He died on the cross for us He became SIN. At first that may not seem like the huge deal that it truly is.

Deuteronomy 9:18 “Then, as before, I threw myself down before the Lord for forty days and nights. I ate no bread and drank no water because of the great sin you had committed by doing what the Lord hated, provoking him to anger.

The Lord HATES sin. There is absolutely nothing about sin that the Lord approves of. Yet, He was willing to be crucified and become the very thing He hates so that we may be free from sin. His love for us is so much greater than His hatred for sin. WOW. But let's not be mistaken in thinking that because God loves us He will not punish our sin. He most certainly will, but the remarkable thing is that in His death and resurrection He provided a way out. He paid the penalty for our sins. Now that's LOVE at it's very best. How can I know and experience this truly amazing love and continue to sin against God? I can't! This is why the Gospel is so powerful. God's love is transforming and liberating. His love compels us to live for Him and do only what is pleasing in His sight.