Tag Archives: clothe yourself with Christ

Don’t Let Envy and Jealousy Ruin Your Heart

Posted on August 12, 2023 by expressyourself4him

When one of the wisest individuals in the Bible urges readers to guard their hearts, Proverbs 4:23, this warning should be heeded. If King Solomon compares human hearts to the well spring of life, erosion and ground water runoff can contaminate this spiritual well. Based upon Moses’ suggestion in the passage below, envy and jealousy filled the hearts of Joseph’s brothers with hatred.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a [distinctive] long tunic with sleeves. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved [Joseph] more than all of his brothers, they hated him and could not say, Peace [in friendly greeting] to him or speak peaceably to him, Genesis 37:3-4.

From a sociology perspective, the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society, there will be certain personality types that will get under your skin. These individuals tend to be more boastful, confident or outspoken. Despite how blessed, gifted and talented people in your life may be, remember that God has a specific plan for everyone, 1 Corinthians 12:1-7.

You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be [ac]liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court. 22 But I say to you that everyone who continues to be [ad]angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be [ae]liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be [af]liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You [ag]cursed fool! [You empty-headed idiot!] shall be [ah]liable to and unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire, Matthew 5:21-22.

Jesus uses the Sermon on the Mount to warn those in attendance of the dangers of envy and jealousy. While the apostle Paul writes, “in your anger do not sin,” Ephesians 4:26, Jesus goes deeper, pointing to your heart. Luke 6:45 reveals that your mouth speaks out of the overflow of your heart. Therefore, before hatred is conceived in your heart, stop the root of bitterness in its tracks, Hebrews 12:15. Clothe yourself with Christ, Colossians 3:12-14, so that love prevails.

by Jay Mankus

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Conditions to God’s Covenant

Posted on March 16, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The concept of faith isn’t a feeling that comes from a conversation between God and Abram. God doesn’t want how you feel when you wake up each morning to dictate whether or not you’re going to spend time with God. Moses came to the same conclusion when he addresses Israel prior to entering the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 28: The only condition that God places on His covenant with Abraham is the expectation that Abe will habitually walk with God as stated in Psalm 1:1-3.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete), Genesis 17:1.

Jesus brings up one condition in His Sermon on the Mount. While addressing proper and improper motives, Jesus turns to the Golden Rule, “loving your neighbor as yourself.” At the conclusion of a prayer called the Our Father by Catholics or simply the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus places a condition on God’s forgiveness. If you want God to forgive you, you must first be willing to show others the same grace by overlooking the those who have trespassed against you.

And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 For if you forgive people their trespasses [their [g]reckless and willful sins, [h]leaving them, letting them go, and [i]giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their [j]reckless and willful sins, [k]leaving them, letting them go, and [l]giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses, Matthew 6:13-15.

When you consider each condition, one found in the Old Testament and another in the New Testament, what does this all mean? Well, God’s conversation with Abraham is similar to the apostle Paul’s words in Romans 8:5-8. God’s expectation for Christian is to habitually walk with God by keeping in step with the Holy Spirit. Meanwhile, Jesus’ condition on forgiveness ties into Paul’s analogy of becoming a new creation in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17. According to one of Jesus’ disciples, to love is to walk with Jesus, 1 John 1:7. While conditions to God’s covenant do exist, obedience to God and faith align with God’s call to die to self and clothe yourself with Christ, Colossians 3:1-9.

by Jay Mankus

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