BY three bad things. I mean bad thoughts, bad words, and bad deeds.
We know that an ear of corn grows from a grain, a flower from a seed, and an oak from an acorn. Well, just in the same way bad words and bad deeds spring up from bad thoughts.
If we leave the door of our mind open, and are not watchful; if we let bad thoughts come in and stay there, bad words and bad deeds will follow them.
When proud, wicked Haman fell into a rage with Mordecai, the Jew, he let bad thoughts enter his heart, and then he began to consider how he could punish Mordecai. The more he thought of the matter the more his bad thoughts pushed him on to evil; till at last he made up his mind to bring about the death of Mordecai, and all his people, the Jews.
But did the matter end there? Oh no! bad thoughts will go on from bad to worse; so Haman’s bad thoughts made him use bad words. He went to the king and spoke against the Jews, and persuaded him to give a command that they might all be destroyed. Thus, you see, bad words followed bad thoughts.
Haman was not yet satisfied; for, as I said, bad thoughts and bad words are sure, unless it pleased God to order otherwise, to be followed by bad deeds. Haman took good care that the king’s command should be sent through the country, and after that caused gallows to be made, that Mordecai might be hanged thereon.
But mark what bad thoughts, bad words, and bad deeds did for Haman. The king found out that he was a wicked and deceitful man, and so he had him hanged on the very gallows he had set up for Mordecai. Again, I say, beware of bad thoughts, bad words, and bad deeds.
Pray against these three bad things; say, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
ML 12/30/1906