Mankinds Ten Worst Enemies: #4 Malice

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.

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Blessings to all!