Bible League: Living His Word Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.— Romans 12:15 ESV Christians should never be covetous, jealous, or envious. Covetousness occurs when someone wrongfully desires something that rightfully belongs to someone else. Jealousy occurs when someone resents someone else because of what rightfully belongs to them. And envy occurs when someone wants to be the someone else who has what rightfully belongs to them. As can be seen, all three sins are born of selfish and self—centered motives. All three sins are instances of the failure to obey the second great commandment, the commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). If a person is caught up in covetousness, jealousy, and envy, then they will have a hard time obeying the commands of the Apostle Paul in our verse for today. First, they will have a hard time rejoicing with those who rejoice. Instead of rejoicing with them, they will be tempted to be sad or bitter. They will be sad that the other person has something that they don't have; they will resent the other person for having it, and they will want to be the other person who has it. How can they rejoice when they're so full of covetousness, jealousy, and envy? Those who genuinely rejoice with those who rejoice, on the other hand, can be happy for other people. They are not so self—centered that they find it difficult to rejoice with others over the good that has happened to them. Second, covetous, jealous, and envious people will have a hard time weeping with those who weep. Instead of weeping with them, they will be tempted to be glad. After all, they may be secretly glad that the other person doesn't have something or has lost something – that it somehow evens the scale between them. Don't expect the covetous, jealous, and envious to truly weep with those who are weeping. Those who genuinely weep with those who weep, on the other hand, can be empathetic with other people. They are not so selfish and self—centered that they find it difficult to weep when their friends have bad things happen to them. Think about your motives. Let us each examine ourselves – is the green monster of envy lurking in your heart and clouding your sympathies? Then pray for a heart that is content as you show true love to your neighbor. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 16 Ezekiel 16 -- Unfaithful Jerusalem and God's Grace NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Hebrews 12 Hebrews 12 -- Fatherly Discipline; A Kingdom that Cannot be Shaken NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.Insight Paul knew that the Thessalonians would face pressure from persecutions, false teachers, worldliness, and apathy to waver from the truth and to leave the faith. So he urged them to “stand firm'' and hold on to the truth they had been taught through both his letters and in person. Challenge We also may face persecution, false teachings, worldliness, and apathy. We should hold on to the truth of Christ's teachings because our lives depend on it. Never forget the reality of Christ's life and love! Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Romans 11:36 To whom be glory forever. Amen"To whom be glory forever." This should be the single desire of the Christian. All other wishes must be subservient and tributary to this one. The Christian may wish for prosperity in his business, but only so far as it may help him to promote this--"To him be glory forever." He may desire to attain more gifts and more graces, but it should only be that "To him may be glory forever." You are not acting as you ought to do when you are moved by any other motive than a single eye to your Lord's glory. As a Christian, you are "of God, and through God," then live "to God." Let nothing ever set your heart beating so mightily as love to him. Let this ambition fire your soul; be this the foundation of every enterprise upon which you enter, and this your sustaining motive whenever your zeal would grow chill; make God your only object. Depend upon it, where self begins sorrow begins; but if God be my supreme delight and only object, "To me 'tis equal whether love ordain My life or death--appoint me ease or pain." Let your desire for God's glory be a growing desire. You blessed him in your youth, do not be content with such praises as you gave him then. Has God prospered you in business? Give him more as he has given you more. Has God given you experience? Praise him by stronger faith than you exercised at first. Does your knowledge grow? Then sing more sweetly. Do you enjoy happier times than you once had? Have you been restored from sickness, and has your sorrow been turned into peace and joy? Then give him more music; put more coals and more sweet frankincense into the censer of your praise. Practically in your life give him honor, putting the "Amen" to this doxology to your great and gracious Lord, by your own individual service and increasing holiness. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 92:5 How great are Your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep.Colossians 1:9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, Ephesians 3:17-19 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, • may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, • and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! Isaiah 55:8,9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. • "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. Psalm 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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