Malice

The source of a good life comes from pure thoughts, free of malice. Malice not only corrupts good faith, but is also responsible for the downfall of many Christians.

Lately, the love of most has been growing cold, not only towards others, but towards God. The type of love that the Bible is referring to is a love that comes from faith. This is what we see happening right now.

The quality of faith found in today's Christians is very similar to the faith of the Israelites in the days of Jeremiah. There is such inconsistency in the faith of people today, and all of this due to malicious desires.

I suggest that you meditate, not read but meditate, on the ninth chapter of Jeremiah. I would like to bring the following selection to your attention:

"My people [...] have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me,' says the LORD." (Jeremiah 9:3)

The force that drives a malicious "Christian" is his personal gain, not to honor the Lord Jesus, but to fight for his own personal interests. This gives birth to malice.

Therefore, "Everyone take heed to his neighbour, And do not trust any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanderers. Everyone will deceive his neighbour, and will not speak the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity. Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know Me, says the LORD" (Jeremiah 9:4-6).

When the Spirit warns you of a bad conscience, it's actually warning you against the spirit of malice, so commonly found among the convinced but not converted. We must be vigilant at all times, not allowing malice to invade our hearts.