Hatred, Malice, And Slander

Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,And whoever spreads slander is a fool.

Proverbs 10:18 (NKJV)

Let me introduce you to two ugly sisters who are born out of hatred. They are Malice and Spite. And ladies, if we give them any kind of place in our souls, we will find that it is very hard to keep them in check. Even if we try to hide them, they will break out and have a life of their own.

Definitions:

• Malice implies a deep-seated animosity that delights in causing others to suffer or in seeing them suffer.
• Spite suggests a mean desire to hurt, annoy, or frustrate others, usually with petty, vindictive acts.

It’s interesting that just two words after malice in the dictionary is the word malign, which is slander. Slander is merely hatred turned into words.

So let’s be honest. In Texas they say, “You have a burr under your saddle.” That burr keeps jabbing the horse, making him buck and kick. Do you have a burr of hatred that is rubbing you and making you mean? This hatred is really killing you—it will destroy your life, not just others’. Will you go to the Cross? Will you kneel all by yourself today and say, “Lord Jesus forgive me, wash me, free me with the power of your cleansing blood”?

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

God has some strong words to say about unresolved anger: “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-27, NIV). Do you feel your anger is justified and therefore must be relived and remembered? Oh, can’t you see that is exactly how Satan gets a foothold? It may have started with someone else’s sin, but now it has become yours. Ouch! Now, let’s apply the ointment of the Word of God. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NKJV).

One Year Bible Reading

Leviticus 20:22–22:16; Mark 9:1-29; Psalm 43:1-5; Proverbs 10:18