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!
scheduled maid service Northbrook ..Don't be confused that a saint is a religious leader... Read More
We all have spirit guides and we all benefit from... Read More
Everyday I am challenged to find the good in things:... Read More
Come on now!? Really? This is going too far, you... Read More
Those of us, who are familiar with Apostle Paul's sermon... Read More
Do you ever wonder about the other "YOU ?"The one... Read More
Many of you come to this site because you are... Read More
African-American people are natural caretakers. We do a great job... Read More
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ... Read More
I heard recently on a Christian radio station somebody talking... Read More
Unless God has changed the way he does things it... Read More
Enlightenment can come in an instant or it may take... Read More
'Jesus answered, are there not twelve hours in a day?... Read More
Let Your Family and Friends Know That You Are A... Read More
Forgiveness breaks all bounds of repression and depression. It liberates... Read More
Jacob had sent his family on across the river Jabbok.... Read More
There are moments in the believer's life when the Spirit... Read More
1. How can anyone receive direct communication from Divine Source,... Read More
I am going to remind of some simple, yet important... Read More
Picture this state of existence in your mind by closing... Read More
Last NAN I explained how to petition the female Saints... Read More
Some say praising Jesus is just singing. Others say it... Read More
Natural laws exist that serve to maintain order in the... Read More
We've all heard the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as... Read More
It's not exactly a news flash that we live in... Read More
reliable maid service Highland Park ..Those five words are from a song that I remember... Read More
Prayer. It's the foundation of a Christian mom's life. Why?... Read More
Connor, a man in his late 40's, has achieved everything... Read More
People have always sought the sacred. It is the Divine... Read More
I'm not sure Paul had the Japanese culture in mind... Read More
We are the beneficiaries of the promise God made to... Read More
"Let me take you down to a town called Paradise."Van... Read More
"You have not handed me over to the enemy but... Read More
Jacob had sent his family on across the river Jabbok.... Read More
In the movie "Forest Gump" we see Forest succeed in... Read More
The Angelic realms have been very active throughout the human... Read More
One day Gilligan ventures off as usual into the jungle.... Read More
I do not want curiosity seekers, who come for a... Read More
Among some of us who deem ourselves spiritual, the use... Read More
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God;I... Read More
I am beginning a journey starting tomorrow. I have decided... Read More
In Corrogue, Celtic mythology helps me live a wonderful life.As... Read More
I would like to share my experience, working with the... Read More
Let me explain my approach to the practice of ritual.... Read More
African-American people are natural caretakers. We do a great job... Read More
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,... Read More
There's a Native American belief that before we are born,... Read More
One cannot make a decision in the moment of now.... Read More
Life, no matter how we choose to look at it,... Read More
As soon as he saw me I saw him. It... Read More
Spirituality |