Psalm 97:10

You that love Jehovah, hate evil: He preserves the souls of his saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

You have good reason to "hate evil," for think what harm it has already done to you. What a world of mischief sin has brought to your heart! Sin so blinded you that you could not see the beauty of the Saviour. It made you deaf so that you couldn't 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. Sin tainted your heart, and made it "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Oh, what a creature you were when evil was doing its worst with you, before divine grace interposed! You were an heir of wrath just like everyone else. You "ran 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 for hating evil when we look back and trace its deadly workings. So much harm evil did to us, that our souls would have been lost had not omnipotent love interfered to redeem us. Even now Satan is an active enemy, ever watching to do us hurt, and to drag us to hell. Therefore "hate evil," O Christians, unless you desire trouble. If you throw thorns in your path 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, clear until the end. If you truly love your Savior, and would honour him, then "hate evil." There is no cure for the love of evil in a Christian like abundant conversation 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."