1 Peter 2:1-2, “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.”
I don’t know of any Christian who deliberately tries to harm another person, but what about having an emotional response of pleasure at someone you disagree with or had offended you, having misfortune? Can you imagine or remember a situation in which you entertained these feelings of someone who wrongly treated you or your family and justice may have been administered in some fashion in the end? Vindication can seem so sweet, doesn’t it? But stop and think about that in the light of God’s Word.
David stated in Psalm 41:5, “My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and his name perish?” Then we read in Titus 3:3-5, “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice, and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” So, God looks at acting with malice and envy as foolishness and being disobedient to Him. Jesus’s example to us all was when he was hanging on the cross, He had no words of hate or anger but simply said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34. The words in the NIV, “do not know what they are doing” have stood out to me.
Nothing will satisfy us in this world. It is not about how we feel or what we do or have accomplished that matters. It is not about whether we are having a good or bad day. Instead, it comes down to what is the power of the Word of God doing in our lives. I challenge you to look for opportunities to share Scripture with a friend, grandchild, co-worker, or check-out person at a store. Look for someone to share a verse of Scripture with that spoke to you recently. Speak life into another person’s heart. Pray you will be used to benefit someone in need from the verse that you share that met your need. You may just be the answer to another person’s prayer. This is a challenge to take on and watch for results as you plant and the Holy Spirit waters.
Put your name into 1 Peter 2:1-2 and read those words again. The frustrations and angst moments that will come today, you can say, “Hello! Now I am ready by God’s Word supplying my needs.”
Listen to Natalie Grant’s Lyric Video, My Weapon