Morning   “Ye that love the Lord hate evil.”   Psalm 97:10

Thou hast good reason to “hate evil,” for only consider what harm it has already

wrought thee. Oh, what a world of mischief sin has brought into thy heart! Sin

blinded thee so that thou couldst not see the beauty of the Saviour; it made

thee deaf so that thou couldst not hear the Redeemer’s tender invitations. Sin

turned thy feet into the way of death, and poured poison into the very fountain

of thy being; it tainted thy heart, and made it “deceitful above all things, and

desperately wicked.” Oh, what a creature thou wast when evil had done its utmost

with thee, before divine grace interposed! Thou wast an heir of wrath even as

others; thou didst “run with the multitude to do evil.” Such

were all of us; but Paul reminds us, “but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified,

but ye 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-pillow, 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 unto the end. If you

truly love your Saviour, and would honour him, then “hate evil.” We know of no

cure for the love of evil in a Christian like abundant intercourse with the Lord

Jesus. Dwell much with him, and it is 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.”

 

Evening   “Be zealous.”   Revelation 3:19

If you would see souls converted, if you would hear the cry that “the kingdoms

of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord;” if you would place crowns

upon the head of the Saviour, and his throne lifted high, then be filled with

zeal. For, under God, the way of the world’s conversion must be by the zeal of

the church. Every grace shall do exploits, but this shall be first; prudence,

knowledge, patience, and courage will follow in their places, but zeal must lead

the van. It is not the extent of your knowledge, though that is useful; it is

not the extent of your talent, though that is not to be despised; it is your

zeal that shall do great exploits. This zeal is the fruit of the Holy

Spirit: it draws its vital force from the continued operations of the Holy

Ghost in the soul. If our inner life dwindles, if our heart beats slowly before

God, we shall not know zeal; but if all be strong and vigorous within, then we

cannot but feel a loving anxiety to see the kingdom of Christ come, and his will

done on earth, even as it is in heaven. A deep sense of gratitude will nourish

Christian zeal. Looking to the hole of the pit whence we were digged, we find

abundant reason why we should spend and be spent for God. And zeal is also

stimulated by the thought of the eternal future. It looks with tearful eyes down

to the flames of hell, and it cannot slumber: it looks up with anxious

gaze to the glories of heaven, and it cannot but bestir itself. It feels that

time is short compared with the work to be done, and therefore it devotes all

that it has to the cause of its Lord. And it is ever strengthened by the

remembrance of Christ’s example. He was clothed with zeal as with a cloak. How

swift the chariot-wheels of duty went with him! He knew no loitering by the way.

Let us prove that we are his disciples by manifesting the same spirit of zeal.