God doesn't tolerate malice

Today's Devotion, God doesn't tolerate malice. Is it acceptable, if we have internal differences within our family, our people, in our church, or our workplace, that we should malice someone? In Job 1 verse 6-12 it is written, One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, Where have you come from? Satan answered the Lord, From roaming through the earth, and going back and forth in it.

Then the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him. He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. Does Job fear God for nothing? Satan replied, Have you not put a hedge around him, and his household, and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flock and herds are spread throughout the land.

But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face. The Lord said to Satan, Very well. Then everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Malice can lead to character assassination when it involves the intent to harm someone's reputation by spreading lies, rumors, or false information that comes from envy, hatred, and jealousy. Satan is the enemy of God, yet they didn't malice each other.

God doesn't approve of malice, but some people do. And always remember that there are consequences for our actions if we recruit people to malice others. Heavenly Father In 1 Peter 2 verse 1 to 2 it is written, Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander like newborn babies long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in receipt to salvation.

Lord, remove the spirit of gossip, pride, and jealousy from our heart. We cannot claim to be in the church and are not living by God's standards. Lord, seal the lips of those who are malicious and comfort those whose reputation are ruined because of lies.

Convict the hearts of those who slander and bring them to repentance so that they may speak truth instead of lies.

All these we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.