Refuse the Evil and Choose the Good

The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies concerning the advent of Christ Jesus. His nativity and some of the more important events of his life are foretold with startling accuracy. One interesting prophecy deals with the unerring nature of Jesus' judgment. The prophet Isaiah declared (Isa. 7:15). "Butter and honey shall he eat that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good."

The phrase "butter and honey" is undoubtedly used by the prophet to indicate that the child who is to be the Messiah is to be fed the best of the land. May it not also symbolize that from earliest boyhood his thought was to be concentrated on the things of Spirit—the sweet, the good, and the pure? Ever about his Father's business, he refused all that was evil and chose only the good, and in so doing brought about his mighty works.

One cannot study the four Gospels without being impressed with the vigor and finality with which Jesus refuted error. We are told that he rebuked sickness and cast out devils, which shows he had no tolerance for evil under any guise. Conversely his acceptance of good was without reservation. He said to his disciples (John 6:38), "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."

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November 10, 1945
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