"I Hate Every False Way!" Says The LORD

It is not always ugly!
(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)

"But you have this in your favor: 
You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, 
which I also hate!" Revelation 2:6 

So I must live, with equal aloofness 
from every wicked and dubious way--
with equal abhorrence of all which my 
divinely enlightened conscience may 
not approve. CHRIST expects me 
to hate the works of the Nicolaitans!

If I am to escape the seductions of sin--
I require such intolerance and hatred. 
There is great enticement in sin's 
gaieties, fascinations, and charms! 

It beguiles! 

It entraps! 

It enthralls! 

It is not always ugly--
often it has a mesmerizing enchantment. 
My one safety is have an unflinching 
opposition to that which is both so fair 
and so foul at the same time. If I dull 
the keen edge of my hostility to sin--
the plausible and insinuating foe will 
quickly have me at his mercy!

There is a type of weakness which 
is all for concession and clemency 
in the presence of evil. It parleys with sin, 
and it dallies in its society. It can say 
a great deal in sin's defense--
perhaps it discerns admirable qualities in it. 

But the holiness to which I am called, 
is more manly and soldierly. It will have 
no friendship with the foul adversary!

If I am to imitate CHRIST--
I require such severities and 
aversions to sin. HE also hates 
the works of the Nicolaitans. 

I misread HIM if I think of HIM as 
altogether meek and gentle. HE sends 
a sword, HE kindles a fire, upon the earth. 
Before HIS pure gaze, sin blushes, and 
droops its proud head, and withers away! 

HE is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and 
HE will not rest until HE has trodden 
every iniquity under HIS feet!

"I hate every false way!" 
Psalm 119:128 

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GraceGems has published John Abbott's helpful and insightful article,
 "The Christian Mother".