Morning By Morning #159

Let those who love the LORD hate evil.

Psalm 97:10

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

You have good reason to “hate evil.” Consider the damage it has already caused you and what an abundance of disobedience it has brought into your heart! Sin once blinded you so you could not see the beauty of the Savior and made you deaf so you could not hear the Redeemer’s tender invitation. Sin caused your feet to walk in the way of death and poured poison into the deepest fountain of your being. It polluted your heart and made it “deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jer. 17:9).

Oh, what a wretched creature you were when evil had done its worst in you, before God’s divine grace intervened! As others are, you were once an heir of His wrath and “follow[ed] the crowd in doing wrong” (Ex. 23:2). This is how we all once were, but Paul reminds us: “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11).

Yes, we have good reason for hating evil when we look back and retrace its deadly work. Sinfulness did such great evil to us that our souls would still be lost if God’s omnipotent love had not intervened to redeem us. And even now it is an active enemy, always alert, hoping to do us harm and to drag us once again into wickedness.

Therefore, dear Christians, “hate evil” unless you desire more trouble. If you wish to litter your path with thorns and fill your death-pillow with needles, then neglect to “hate evil.” But if you desire to live a happy life and die a peaceful death, then walk in “the Way of Holiness” (Isa. 35:8), hating evil unto the very end. If you truly love your Savior and wish to honor Him, then “hate evil.”

There is no better cure for a Christian’s love of evil than abundant fellowship with the Lord Jesus. If you spend your time with Him, it will be impossible for you to be at peace with sin.

Order my footsteps by Thy Word,

And make my heart sincere;

Let sin have no dominion, Lord,

But keep my conscience clear.

Isaac Watts, 1674 – 1748

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

We should learn to hate what the Lord hates and love what He loves.

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Proverbs 6:16 – 19

“The LORD loves righteousness and justice” (Ps. 33:5). And the Lord loves His Son, for He said, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7).

What great advice for believers who desire to honor the Lord: “Listen to him!” But may we follow our listening with obedience to what we hear, making this commitment to the Lord, “We will listen and obey” (Deut. 5:27).