Tuesday March 29, 2011
Theme: Jealousy
Weekend Music links on iTunes: Salvation Is Here, No Not One, None But Jesus
Read: Luke 6:45, Psalm 37:4, Psalm 40:8, Psalm 51:6, Mark 4:18,19
Think: On the subject of what makes us jealous, what does the world say we need? More speed, iPad, iPhone, iAnything, the right jeans, a cold one. The marketing industry thrives on creating images that cause us to think we need something. It’s a war for our desires. If they can make us desire what we don’t have maybe they can cause us to get in the car or bring up our PayPal account to get it.
What do I desire? What is my heart’s desire? Pastor Ben told us this weekend that jealousy is a heart issue. (Read Luke 6:45). King David spoke a lot about desire, Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart”. The critical prerequisite to getting the desires of our heart is our delight in the Lord and knowing His desires. In the parable of the sower, (Mark 4:18,19), the Bible refers to those desires that aren’t His as thorns. When His word is sown in this thorny ground of mixed desires, God’s word can be choked out and become unfruitful.
In the war for our desires we have weapons and armor, read Ephesians 6:10-17.
Do: Acknowledge that there is a war going on for your desires. Everyday put on the full armor of God and especially the helmet of salvation and the breastplate of righteousness to keep your mind and heart safe.
Pray: Lord God, I delight in You and Your desires for my life. Sow them in me and pull out any thorns that would keep me from being fruitful for You. Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.