October 17 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 45:1–8

Devotional

“Be angry, and do not sin” (Eph. 4:26). There can hardly be goodness in a man if he is not angered at sin; he who loves truth must hate every false way. How our Lord Jesus hated it when the temptation came! Three times it assailed him in different forms, but ever he met it with, “Get behind me, Satan.” He hated it in others—none the less fervently because he showed his hate more often in tears of pity than in words of rebuke—yet what language could be more stern, more Elijah-like, than the words, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation” (Mk. 12:38-40).

He hated wickedness so much that he bled to wound it to the heart. He hated wickedness so much that he died that it might die. He hated wickedness so much that he was buried that he might bury it in his tomb. He hated wickedness so much that he rose that he might forever trample it beneath his feet.

Christ is in the gospel, and that gospel is opposed to wickedness in every shape. Wickedness dresses itself up in fine clothes and imitates the language of holiness. But the precepts of Jesus, like his famous scourge of small cords, chase it out of the temple, and will not tolerate it in the church.

So, too, in the heart where Jesus reigns, what war there is between Christ and Belial! And when our Redeemer comes to be our Judge, those thundering words, “Depart from me, you who are cursed” (Mt. 25:41) which are, indeed, but a prolongation of his life-teaching about sin, shall manifest his abhorrence of iniquity. As warm as is his love to sinners, so hot is his hatred of sin; as perfect as is his righteousness, so complete shall be the destruction of every form of wickedness. O glorious Champion of right and Destroyer of wrong, for this cause has God, even your God, anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.

[May 29, morning]

Extracted from C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening (public domain), language modernized by Larry E. Wilson.