We often define evildoer with broad strokes: murderer, adulterer, kidnapper, extortioner, liar, and so on. But what about the subtle ills we unconsciously or consciously do to one another that don’t make the headlines—the small foxes that slither devastation into a person’s life? We can’t weigh the magnitude of sin on scales like vegetables in a supermarket; it doesn’t matter if it’s explicit, understated, or muted—it’s all evil in God’s sight.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness (Matthew 23:27).
The evildoer’s spirit is conniving as it slithers into vulnerable situations. For example, the world is split on many issues, and it’s okay to have differences of opinion; however, what’s not alright is how we dehumanize one another in the process of disagreeing. This dehumanization plays right into the devil’s hands. And we, as believers in Christ, must not be one of the characters in his plot to spread evil.
We’ve all watched movies and applauded when evildoers were finally captured; it’s part of our human nature to want to see justice served. But what if we’re the wrongdoer—do we still wish justice served? We’re often unaware of the evil we spurt onto others.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24, NKJV).
Anyone of us can be susceptible to this scheming spirit. Therefore, we must remain watchful for any signs of it influencing our hearts; we must stay prayerful and keep our minds on God’s righteous ways of doing things. And as impossible as it may sound, the best way to protect our hearts is to love one another.
Of course, that’s not always easy, but we can’t take the devil’s bait and say that’s impossible; God wouldn’t tell us to love everybody if it were impossible. So if you are having problems loving, ask for the Holy Spirit’s help, then do whatever He says.
In John 14:15, Jesus tells us if we love Him, we’ll keep His commandments. 1 John 4:20 says if a man says he loves God and hates his brother, he is a liar.
Will those Scriptures justify our explanation to mistreat and hate others?
So when the enemy uses people to spread division, injustice, bigotry, and other forms of hatred, by faith and our allegiance to our heavenly Father, hold up: LOVE.
Stay vigilant—the evildoer is slithering by.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)
© 2022
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