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Gary or Jill Getchell at zebraministries@gmail.com


Zebra Ministries

Welcome to the herd!

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Jealousy

Galatians 5:16-17

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. (NASB)

Good morning ladies,

Many of us have Galatians 5:22 memorized. It lists the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When we are exhibiting theses virtues in our life we can be assured that we are living by the power of God.

But I think we should also memorize Galatians 5:19 which lists the acts of the flesh because when we are acting like this it should be a signal that we are in sin.

Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like are sure signs that we are walking in the flesh.

Recently my mother-in-law moved here and I have been struggling with loving her like I should. I want to be loving and kind, but when I get around her I find myself short-tempered and irritated.

Yesterday God showed me it is because I am jealous. And jealousy and love cannot co-exist.

Jealousy does bad things to a person. It makes normal people mean and unkind. The first murder occurred over jealousy. Cain was jealous because God preferred his brother’s sacrifice to his so he killed him. Haven’t we all told our children when someone is unkind to them “Maybe they are jealous of you?”

But more than that jealously is a sin against God. When we are jealous of what someone else has or does we are saying to God that what He has given us is not enough-we want more. And that is sin.

Most of us don’t like to admit that we are jealous. We know it is “bad” so we try to rationalize it away or ignore it. But that won’t work. I know I’ve tried.

What does work is honesty. Admit to God you are jealous, admit it is a sin, repent and ask forgiveness, make restitution if necessary, and then with gratitude for what God has given you, move on.

Love,
Jill

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