Windows. . .

The eyes are the windows to the soul.  So much can be discerned about what is going on inside a person by paying attention to their eyes.  If you could have seen my eyes today they would probably have looked something like this:

I think my eyes would have been green--really green.  Why?  Because I just seemed to struggle with jealously today and couldn't shake it.

I'm not proud of this fact, but, well, there it is. . . .in all it's "glory".  I have confessed my sin and given it to the Lord but the fall-out is not always so quickly overcome.  I am in the Lord's hands--a good place to be when you need healing.

But all this jealousy caused me to think of God's heart and an example of how one man lived with the right attitude. 

In John 3 we hear about John the Baptist who was (surprise, surprise) baptizing many people only to find out that someone else (Jesus) was beginning to baptize more than he.  Some people brought this to John's attention and this was his response (v27ff) "To this John replied, 'A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.  You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him,'  The bride belongs to the bridegroom.  The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice.  That joy is mine, and it is now complete.  He must become greater; I must become less.'"

This would have been a perfect opportunity for John to be jealous, but instead he responded with righteousness.  What a great example for me. . . .for all of us.

I think it is important to pay attention to two things John said.  The first is this "A man can only receive what is given him from heaven."  This reminds me of a passage in Romans 12:3 that says "Do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."  God has designed us, has given us gifts and abilities, and has given us a purpose in life to accomplish.  But what he has given to me, will look different than what he has given to you.  God wants us to be at peace with who he has made us and what he has given to us---just like John the Baptist was.  He understood the bigger picture and was filled with joy because of it!

The second important thing to remember is that we need to have a heart like John's when he said that Jesus must become greater and we must become less.  John knew what humility was all about.  It's not an easy thing to openly embrace something or someone else who is greater than you.  That's the playground for jealousy.  This is especially true when God is doing things in another person that is greater than what he is doing in you at that time.  That is not to say that what God is doing is better in someone else, but God's purpose for that person may be to have them have more impact or wider influence, or deeper understanding etc.  And to a jealous heart, this is dynamite. . . .

Lord, today I pray that for myself and for anyone who is struggling with jealousy, we would receive forgiveness and healing as we confess it to you.  I ask that we would receive what John had--complete joy in knowing that Jesus was being lifted up.  Fill us with understanding that we will be personally satisfied when we worship Jesus, that we don't need to fight for our place or our position, but that we would be able to live with truly humble hearts.

I sense freedom coming even as I write this. . . . .God, you are sooo good.

BT