p. 7 | Hatred's Halter

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, Cal. · Feb 7, 1911

Hatred's Halter

THERE is no deep spiritual life possible to one who holds the slightest feeling of resentment or unfriendliness toward any living human being. The Bible recognizes only two possible attitudes toward a fellow being,—love and hate. Love is of God; hate is of the devil. Those whom, knowing, we do not love,—in the sense of having entire readiness to serve their interests even to the laying down of our life,—we hate; for there is no half-way ground. And, as Professor Stalker has said, "To leave hatred in even a corner of the heart is to leave the devil in possession; it is the kingdom of hell instead of the kingdom of heaven."

The devil does not ask us to turn over everything to him; he is well content if, in this way, we will give him welcome occupancy in just one "trifling" corner. He knows that, while he is permitted there, Christ can not get in. And he is often there in our half smothered yet very real bitterness of feeling toward some one. If we have found ourselves longing for all the fulness of the power and victory and joy of the Christian life, have we ever asked ourselves whether we are really willing to pay the price in letting hate go?—Sunday School Times.