Discipleship Devotional, April 23rd, 2025
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
– James 3:14–16 (KJV)
The Bible gives us stern warnings against harboring strife in our hearts because strife is one of the most dangerous lusts of the flesh. Strife has the ability to invite all manner of demons into one’s life. The Apostle James says in our anchor text that the ‘wisdom’ that encourages us to walk in malice and strife is devilish. He calls it wisdom because the devil always presents it as wisdom. Often, people think themselves to be in the right when they harbor malice and strife in their hearts. But this wisdom is from the devil.
The Bible teaches that we must walk in love and peace toward one another. This is seen as foolishness to the carnal mind. The carnal mind sees malice as wisdom and love as foolishness. Meanwhile, the reverse is the case. God does not want us to allow grudges, malice, envy, and other works of the flesh to destroy us, because they indeed can destroy us. It is a fact that many who entered into witchcraft were very envious of certain people.
When someone allows bitterness and strife to take hold of their heart, they can easily become an instrument in the hands of the devil to do all manner of evil. All kinds of evil thoughts and plans are possible when envy and strife are present in our hearts. Our anchor passage says that there is also confusion. Strife produces confusion in the life of a person and in the midst of a people. We must therefore shut the door to strife and open the door to love, peace, and joy as the Scriptures instruct.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
– Philippians 2:3 (KJV)
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, help me to always shun malice and strife. Help me to walk in love every day.
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