Tag: envy
Guided to Glory!
Scripture reading for September 11: Psalm 73:23-26 “Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my Portion forever.”
Jude 20-22 “But you beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt, . .”
Have you ever envied someone who appeared more prosperous or blessed than you? This psalm deals with the honest confession of a person who struggled with envy and coveting the apparent prosperity and blessing of the wicked. Evidently he was suffering with some affliction as well and he entertained thoughts like “in vain have I kept my heart clean.” (vs 13) But as he continued the psalm, he entered God’s sanctuary and saw the end of the wicked in judgment by the Almighty. Though they had lived in apparent luxury, they would be swept away in a moment at the judgment.
In spite of the psalmist’s doubts and envy, God was with him and held his right hand, leading him with His unfailing counsel. He revealed that in the end, in spite of the suffering and eventual death, he would be with God in glory. God would be the strength of his heart and his Portion forever!
Jude, wrote to the church to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. (vs 3) Jude was aware of the battle for our faith waged by our flesh and our enemy, Satan. Jude encouraged believers not to be deceived by the false, but to build up their faith through prayer in the Holy Spirit. They must faithfully wait for the mercy of God and show mercy on others who struggled. That’s our merciful Father and Lord guiding His church home to eternal glory!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your mercy and the Wonderful Counselor You sent to live in us and help us to pray and stand in our faith. Thank You for empowering Your Church to share that message with the lost and doubting. In Christ’s Love, Amen.
In step with the Holy Spirit
Scripture reading for January 31st: Exodus 1-3, Galatians 5
Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
In order to live an abundant life now in this world and to enjoy eternal life in the ages to come, God sends us the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ’s life in us. We don’t completely lose our sin nature, but we must continually put it to death by the grace given us through Christ’s death on the cross. We must avoid pride in our own power and ability to avoid sin and be careful not to compare ourselves with others or envy others’ walk. The Holy Spirit resides in us, but does not overpower us. We must humbly listen to His leading and allow Him to produce fruit of Christ’s character. This requires us to walk in daily obedience and follow closely in His steps as He guides us through life’s trials and tests. Like Moses of old, we are required to ‘take off our sandals’–humbly honor the Holy Spirit’s presence and recognize our heart, mind and body are now ‘holy ground.’
Exodus 3:3-5 “And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned. When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.””
Prayer: Lord God, I remove my sandals again today, symbolizing my own walk in the flesh. I invite the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in my life and soul and to guide me in His steps today. I want to walk on the holy ground You prepare for me today and go where You send me to bring liberty and freedom to Your people and Good News of the God that calls us by name out of sin’s bondage.
Exodus 3:9-10 “And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.””