For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.

Psalm 5:4

We are constantly surrounded by evil and wickedness in this world. Our culture may not see certain things as evil, but to the Lord, anything that is sinful is wicked in his sight. To us, some things seem harmless at first. However, God is holy and knows that sin is our downfall.

God does not take pleasure in wickedness or our sin. Sin is anything that goes against God’s law. God’s law can be summarized in two statements: love God with everything you have and love your neighbor as yourself. Sometimes we don’t see the danger in sinful actions but rather see them as desirable.  In the end, they cause us harm and lead us astray from what is truly good. God’s nature is good and he knows what we need in our life. He helps guide us away from sin and to things that are eternal and wonderful.

God is righteous and our actions against him matter. Because of God’s holiness and justice, we are accountable to him for our actions. We have to recognize the difference between right and wrong and follow what God has shown us to be good. Not only does this please God, but it also helps build our character and show others what it means to live a righteous life. 

When we place our faith in Christ, we become more aware of his holiness and his goodness. We see what he went through when he sent his son to die on the cross for our sins. As we grow in our love for God our lives will start to reflect his Spirit by demonstrating love, kindness, joy, patience, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. 

When we draw closer to God, we start to recognize the influence of sin in our lives. As God makes us more like himself, we begin to desire the things of God and want to put away our sins. Through your actions and attitudes, those around you can see the righteousness of God, and one day, they may draw near to God.

This week, pray about the areas in your life where God is convicting you. If there is sin in your life, pray that God would remove that from you and make you more like Christ.