"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
The Greek word translated here as “malice” is really more of a generic term for evil and wickedness. The remaining four words help describe it. If you want to kill love, then be selfish. If you want to grow in love and in the character of our Lord, then feed yourself on the Word of God.
are we to purify ourselves? We are already made holy by the Holy Spirit in our standing before God, however we are now to act holy in our actions.
We purify ourselves by getting rid of selfish attitudes. Take this little test. Let me use the word DEATH as an acrostic - helping to identify the problem.
Put to death these traits:
D-Deceit, lies include misrepresenting truth. The word is related to guile. It is what fishermen do to catch a fish. They put out bait to attract fish but it is a trap.
Are you honest in your dealings? In stories you tell? We like to use the term “little white lies.” The Bible calls it sin.
E-Envy, is what happens when we look at other’s apparent successes or material gains and think ill of them because we think we deserve it not them.
Selfless love is expressed by John the Baptist as he pointed His crowds to Christ, not desiring his own popularity.
A- Anger, Malice includes anger, it includes all evil that seeks to do wrong against another, harboring feelings of negativism. Hatred. Can you take that person and pray for him or her regularly? Can you let God love them through you, even if it means you must forgive them of their sins or worse yet, let God bless them rather than you?
T- Tongue, represents slander, lies, put down about others, rumors against people we do not like. Someone said “Nobody like gossip but everyone loves to listen to it.”
Epistle James says the tongue is so hard to control. It is easy to slip out a little negative comment to the right person in the right circumstance and it sounds so innocent.
H- Hypocrisy, being deceitful will cause us to live in ways that are full of pretense That is what the word means. Play acting is the way people pretend. Pretending love is that way too. God sees the heart and knows.
Application: If these things bring death to love, then what will allow us to live in love? It is the Word of God. Realize it is powerful and active and living, and touches our lives in our most important needs. It is with the seeds that are implanted within us that does not perish. We see it lived out in Christ.
Prayer: Lord, as I seek You in Your Word, implant the seeds of Your Word in my heart.
