Malice is a great enemy to mankind. It is evil and wicked. It is destructive to both the victim of its attacks and the perpetrator as well. The Psalmist pleaded, "Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts."
Malice wears the clothing of deceit. It is manipulative and venomous when it strikes. It is a wolf dressed up in sheep's clothes. Malicious individuals bear false witness and promote their fallacies with cunning confusion; mingling truth with fabrications and thus ensnaring their victims. The malicious are extremely selfish, cowardly and treacherous. They smile in your face while stabbing you in the back.
According to Scripture, malice resides in the heart of man:
He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' " Mark 7:20-23.
For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel,.. Ezekiel 25:6.
Understand that malice seeks to destroy. That is its sole aim and it seeks to accomplish this nefarious goal by any fraudulent means necessary.
Christians have been empowered through Christ to resist this destructive tool of Satan. We live in peace with our fellow man knowing full well that God will mete out perfect justice in His own time and within the freedom of His will and purpose. We have no need to usurp His authority or defy His commands by engaging in malicious intent against anyone. Christians rest in the assurance that all those who allow themselves to be instruments of Satans tactics to destroy are going to be judged by God.
We acknowledge that "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior?" Titus 3:3-6.
Malice sets up residence in our hearts but "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."
Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon.
You are welcome to visit amen ministries: your soul's service station for reviewing spiritual services being offered, obtain spiritual refreshing and soul edification, browse our newly expanded Stop & Shop Mini Mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library.
Blessings to all!
town car ride to ohare Bethalto .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HarePrayer from a child's simple bedtime prayer, to the prayers... Read More
I am going to remind of some simple, yet important... Read More
Feeling restless? Is part of you calling out for change,... Read More
I have discovered as I grow older in Christ Jesus... Read More
God made humans in his image but these days very... Read More
Karen was the name of the reception person, who sat... Read More
In Corrogue, Celtic mythology helps me live a wonderful life.As... Read More
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken... Read More
Greetings Divine Ones, I am going to ask you a... Read More
"We're one, but we are not the same."-Bono, U2Once I... Read More
Qohelet had grown old with time when he delivered his... Read More
When we find spirituality, or it finds us, the experience... Read More
After first seeing my photography, people... Read More
You will become as great as your dominant aspiration...If you... Read More
As we walk these halls of Life viewing the world... Read More
A subject of debate for thousands of years, spirituality will... Read More
It was my intention to explain the word "simple," and... Read More
What is it with angels and digital clocks? I fell... Read More
Matthew 2:16-18Herod Kills the Children16 Then Herod, when he saw... Read More
As we go through life we all have to deal... Read More
With those words recorded in Exodus 15:26, God proclaims to... Read More
My wife, our friend and I went to listen to... Read More
Being"You have taken yourself to be something that you are... Read More
"In the sixth century of the sixth millennium, the gates... Read More
What power do we hold individually in the midst of... Read More
Gurnee Lincoln Stretch rentals ..I come face to face with self whenever you come... Read More
"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure,... Read More
Believe it or not most astral Attacks are not caused... Read More
Listen to the sound of silence. Enjoy the peace and... Read More
Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in... Read More
The "Left Behind" series is inspiring, in that it makes... Read More
Since my departure from the traditional "Corporate Life" almost 8... Read More
How many of us rush blindly through our days, fall... Read More
I heard recently on a Christian radio station somebody talking... Read More
AN ARISTOCRATIC UPBRINGING:There are many people who write about sex... Read More
There is an inherent generosity in the human spirit to... Read More
"Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for... Read More
Even though our lives progressively moves forward on occasion it... Read More
Jack Nicholson (Col. Jessup) (marine cornel) YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE... Read More
Life is like an obstacle course in which we run... Read More
In Corrogue, Celtic mythology helps me live a wonderful life.As... Read More
Who among us really understands the chakras? For all that... Read More
When I first heard Donnie McClurkin's song, "We Fall Down... Read More
When the storms in your life are raging, just believe,... Read More
We all need space, we all need time to ourselves.In... Read More
I am beginning a journey starting tomorrow. I have decided... Read More
When God first unveils a business or ministry vision that... Read More
One important factor in how we go through life is... Read More
I can see the cops coming! They're a good thousand... Read More
As I listen with pastors and preachers in the body... Read More
Spirituality |