Hotness: A Pocket Bible Study & Journal
Excerpt Figuring out what is mean is a tricky job. Each person might have a different take on it. And some nice things you say can be taken as mean from the person you say them to. So what's the deal, is there a good definition of mean? A good way to judge for yourself if what you are about to do or say is mean?  Or is mean a moving target that changes with people's perspective and/or emotion?  Thank God for ultimate truth. In God's Word we can find the ultimate answers about what we should and shouldn't do to one another. So instead of trying to guess at what we think, let's have a look at the final authority on mean.  The Bible is an instruction book that tells us how to live. It tells us about our God, what he loves and what he hates. As a believer it's important to know both things. To better understand mean and how to remove it from your life it's important to understand the things that God hates. Your hate list might just be a pet peeve list. In other words, a list of stuff that makes you crazy. But on God's hate list are things that are damaging not only to others but to the soul of the person who does them. His hate list is a sin list. The things that God hates are things that are not only mean but should be off limits to those who confess to follow Jesus. Let's open up those Bibles and have a look at what God says is too mean for his children. First Peter 3:8-9 - In the version below circle the word don't every time you see it and then underline the rest of the sentence after it.   "Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That's what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it" (NLT). Now, read it again and double underline all the things you should do. (You should find four things you should do.)