ANY JEALOUS BONES IN YOUR BODY?
“Are you jealous?” –Numbers 11:29
The devil couldn’t stop the seventy-two Israelite elders from receiving the Spirit (see Nm 11:25-26). However, he hoped to be more successful by enticing the Israelites to quench the Spirit (1 Thes 5:19) through jealousy (Nm 11:29).
Demons could not prevent a man from using Jesus’ name to expel them (Mk 9:38). Therefore, they tried to stop the continuation of this man’s ministry of deliverance (Mk 9:38). Once again, the demons tried to accomplish this through jealousy.
Jesus is dead set against jealous people being sad at others’ successes and thereby saddening the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). He warns that if we’re jealous of other people’s hands because they work better than ours and can make more money, then we should cut off our own hands rather than remain rooted in jealousy (Mk 9:43). If we’re jealous of others’ speed, strength, or health, we should cut off our feet (Mk 9:45). If we’re jealous of how others look, we should tear out one of our eyes (Mk 9:47). If you have a “jealous bone in your body,” Jesus says to take out the bone or amputate that part of your body.
Jealousy is one of the works of the flesh (Gal 5:20). “I warn you, as I have warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!” (Gal 5:21) Repent of jealousy. Don’t compare yourself with others. Believe in God the Father’s love for you as His child.
PRAYER: Father, I offer my body to You as a living sacrifice (Rm 12:1).
PROMISE: “Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow His Spirit on them all!” –Nm 11:29
PRAISE: “He is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords Who alone has immortality and Who dwells in unapproachable light, Whom no human being has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and everlasting rule! Amen” (1 Tm 6:15-16).
