18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Our nation is split right down the middle. One side burns and loots their own cities and blames it on the other side and their leaders have not condemned them. They elect folks who voted against integration and call the other side racial while the other side takes on worse racial attitudes because of the radical behavior.(If this sounds confusing, it is because confusion is the job of the enemy.)
Does any of this bring harsh feelings in your heart and mind? Sure it does. It, at least, brings feelings of insecurity for our nation. Do you have an 'ill will' for the other side. Be truthful. Do you?
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
The dictionary defines 'malice' as the intention or desire to do evil; ill will.(There's that ill will thing again.)
Does all this bring malice into your mind? Or, is it already there? Malice is sort of like this covid thing-it is highly contagious. We can practice much great precautionary hygiene but still get the virus. We can listen to the Holy Spirit continuously but the minute we let our guards down and hear the latest news-there it comes again. The enemy banging on our emotions with bad news.
As involved as we may be, we have no excuse for ill will toward anyone-no excuse at all. Paul wrote this:
"But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing." 2 Timothy 2:23
If the voice is negative, we must take the negativity captive and not allow it in. We must not let the negative pass our lips. Who will listen and learn from a negative spirit? Those who embrace the negative.
Peter wrote: 14 Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight. 15 Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. 2 Peter 3:15
As we endeavor to stay spotless and blameless in His sight, the world also is watching-the world who needs a savior is watching you and me. The enemy wants us to stumble so he can point an accusing finger. The Holy Spirit wants us to stay blameless so people will ask us for a reason for the hope within us.
1 Peter 3:15 ►But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Look deep inside. Do not be fooled. Any ill will is malice and is sin. Sin puts a barrier between us and the presence of God in us. It starts to numb us to the truth but to the truth we must cling no matter how much our emotions say otherwise.
Define it; confess it; click on the notification button so a flasher comes up in your mind when the negative sounds good to you. Do whatever it takes to chain up the seeds of malice and lock them away. Too many souls are at stake for us to take a little pleasure in ill will toward someone who needs Jesus-plain and simple.
...because He loves us...and all of them, too...
Father in Heaven,
Forgive my malice-my ill will and judgement toward folks who need You. Help me be like Jesus and see through it all.
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