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But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
james 3:14-16 nlt
Question. How often have you said to yourself, “They may have a big house, but who knows what’s going on inside of there” or “They have xyz, but I bet they’re probably struggling”? You can insert whatever item or situation inside that phrase, but the sentiment is the same. You perceived that someone else had an advantage or better blessing than you and created a judgement to make yourself feel better. Why? Because there is some level of jealousy or envy that you were trying to placate or soothe.
Jealousy, though often seen in a negative light, is eye opening in the spiritual maturation process. This is because emotions are a great indicator of the position of your heart. When we have jealousy or envy in our hearts, we come up with ways to alleviate it on our own instead of embracing the truth of God.
One way of avoidance is by judging others. The Bible is clear on judging; “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1). Yet, so often, that’s the first thing we turn to dull jealousy’s sting. So how do we heal the root of jealousy? God’s Truth. Let’s look at Colossians 3:13-15, it teaches us to forgive and put on love. First, we must ask for God’s forgiveness for the times when we judge others; for the Lord alone is our judge (James 4:12). Next, we forgive ourselves for trying to alleviate jealousy in our own strength. And lastly, we love others and cling to harmony instead of ill will or conflict.
When we look at God’s Word, we recognize that God is not holding out on us. God is a good father and He doesn’t withhold from His children. “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:6 - 7 NLT). God will bless you according to His will in due time, so there’s no place for jealousy or envy in your heart. You have the power to overcome jealousy by rooting yourself in God’s Word. Lean into God and not your own strength.
When was the last time that you recognized that you were jealous or even envious of someone else? How can you uproot those thoughts and replace them with God’s Truth today?
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The passage illustrates the importance of being a beacon of light in dim, dark places, as guided by Luke 11:33-36. One must not let comfort lead to dulled awareness, but instead consciously illuminate one’s environment. It urges self-reflection on how one’s personal light can lead others towards embracing Jesus.
The Lord’s Prayer 11 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread, 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone
The Beatitudes 20 And He raised His eyes toward His disciples and began saying, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when the people hate you, and when they exclude you, and insult you, and scorn your
I have been lost a time or two. Usually, because I got distracted and wandered off the intended path. Whatever sparked my interest was enough to cause me to lose sight of my intended destination. In this passage, we find Jesus as a child, so focused on His Father’s business that he wanders off from his parents. In my own life, I’ve found that I’m not prone to wander towards my father’s business….but away from it.
If you or someone close to you is in need, we would be honored to lift you up in prayer. We believe in the power of prayer to bring peace, comfort, and reassurance during times of hardship. Our community is ready to join together and pray as we trust in God’s love and unending grace.
