Devotional: Hate Evil

[I have enjoyed the Morning and Evening devotionals of the late 1800’s Particular Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, but find them a bit archaic in presentation. So I have re-written them in more modern fashion for modern ears, in some cases even modifying them.]

You who love Yahweh, hate evil. (Psalm 97:10)

You have good reason to “hate evil,” for only consider what harm it has already caused you. Oh, what a world of mischief sin has brought into your heart! Sin blinded you so that you could not see the beauty of the Savior; it made you deaf so that you could not hear the Redeemer’s tender invitations. Sin turned your feet into the way of death, and poured poison into the very fountain of your being; it tainted your heart, and made it “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Oh, what a creature you were when evil had done its utmost with you, before divine grace interposed! You were an heir of wrath even as others; you did “run with the multitude to do evil.”

Such were all of us; but Paul reminds us, “but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” We have good reason, indeed, for hating evil when we look back and trace its deadly workings. Such mischief did evil do us, that our souls would have been lost had not omnipotent love interfered to redeem us. Even now it is an active enemy, ever watching to do us hurt, and to drag us to perdition.

Therefore “hate evil,” O Christians, unless you desire trouble. If you would strew your path with thorns, and plant nettles in your death bed, then neglect to “hate evil:” but if you would live a happy life, and die a peaceful death, then walk in all the ways of holiness, hating evil, even to the end. If you truly love your Savior, and would honor him, then “hate evil.” We know of no cure for the love of evil in a Christian like abundant fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Dwell much with him, and it is impossible for you to be at peace with sin. “Order my footsteps by your Word, And make my heart sincere; Let sin have no dominion, Lord, But keep my conscience clear.”