ARE YOU JEALOUS?

“I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles, God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.” (Romans 11:13-14, NLT)

Today I had one of those unexpected moments in your life that makes you stop and take stock of where you are in your life journey. I received a call from the doctor’s office. He wants to do some diagnostic tests on something he found as a result of a routine exam last week. My first response was to allow my mind to conjure up all kinds of death scenarios…for a moment. Then I stopped the thoughts and prayed to God.

Peace washed over me as I prayed. He showed me that there is no reason to freak out until there is a reason to freak out…then there is still no reason to freak out—because no matter what, He is in control. Whether I acknowledge this or not, it is still true. But, yielding to this truth helped me release my cares to Him—and all fear subsided.

On this life journey I have faced many trials and fears. But, God has never left my side. He has seen me through every one of them. It is this “peace that passes understanding” (Philippians 4:7) that provides the right response to God’s call on my life—no matter what.

Without creating more drama than necessary at this point, what I am saying is that resting in Him has given me the peace to face whatever trials he chooses to take me through. Sometimes God allows us to go through circumstances—no matter how big or small—for us to understand our own response. He already knows. But, we need to know whether we can really live out what we believe in tangible ways.

Whatever God leads me through, I want to respond in a way that glorifies Him. I desire to respond in a way that others will see the strength that only comes from knowing God and having a personal relationship with Jesus. That doesn’t mean that I won’t fear. That doesn’t mean I won’t cry. That doesn’t mean He will choose to rescue me from it. But, it does mean that I fully trust him to know best how to use my life for His glory and purpose.

This is what Paul was writing about in the above passage: As Christians we must respond to our daily circumstances in such a way that we make others jealous of what we have—peace, joy, wisdom, strength—because of our relationship with Christ. And through their desire to possess these things, they too will be saved.