Sermon Central
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Hatred's Bitter Fruit
Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 2, 2023 (message contributor)
One of the worst cases of hatred I have ever come across is found in a will written in 1935 by a Mr. Donohoe. It says, "Unto my two daughters, Frances Marie and Denise Victoria, by reason of their unfilial attitude toward a doting father, … I leave the sum of $1.00 to each and a father's curse. May their lives be fraught with misery, unhappiness, and poignant sorrow. May their deaths be soon and of a lingering malignant and torturous nature." The last line of the will is so vicious I shudder to quote it. It reads, "May their souls rest in hell and suffer the torments of the condemned for eternity."
Such utter contempt didn't develop in a day. It had to grow over a long period of time. We should never allow our minds to become fertile soil for the seeds of hatred. We would do ourselves a world of good by heeding the words of Paul, "Do not let the sun go down on your wrath" (Eph. 4:26). And James gave wise counsel when he told us to "be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:19, 20).
Let's not forget that "whoever hates his brother is a murderer" (1John 3:15). How important it is, therefore, never to nurture hatred's bitter fruit!
- Richard W. De Haan
When angry feelings go unchecked,
They'll mushroom into hate;
So don't let time feed bitterness --
Forgiveness must not wait.--Sper
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