Prophet’s Reading Plan: Jeremiah 23-25:16
Galatians 5:26 (NIV) Let us not become conceited, provoking and
envying each other.
After listing off the fruits of the Spirit that we are
urged to cultivate, Paul finishes the section with this final warning: don’t be
conceited or provoke and envy each other. Our human nature is always there to
threaten the work of the Spirit. God develops a fruit in our lives and Satan
wishes us to become prideful over the new fruit, to see it as a personal
accomplishment and grow conceited over it. Or he would wish to stir up
discontent over our fruits as we watch others operate in theirs. He stirs up
envy, causing us to forget the grace God has shown to us with the gifts we’ve been given and the fruit that’s
been grown in our lives. Satan knows
that arrogance and envy are body-killers and destroyers of the church, and all
too often we play into his hands and wreak havoc in relationships through
gossip and slander. We wish to downplay another’s gift while exalting our own
and so we speak badly of another brother or sister in Christ. Jesus takes this
kind of behaviour very seriously. The church is His bride. Like any loving
groom, He is ready to defend His bride from anything that would try to destroy
her. And it hurts Him immensely when the bride is destroying herself. Like one
who cuts or starves their body is the person who slanders his brothers and
sisters. Let us not become conceited,
provoking and envying each other.
Remember that the fruit is cultivated in our lives. It takes work. If you desire to grow in
one of the fruits, bring that thing before the Lord in prayer. Surely God also
desires you to grow in these areas and He will help you and He will use you to build up the body!
PRAYER AND
MEDITATION
1. Are
you envious of the fruit you see in the lives of others? Ask God to search your
heart on this issue and confess the hard feelings you have. Pray a blessing for
those you envy. Pray that God would increase
the fruit in their lives.
2. Are
you proud of fruit in your life? Are you starting to see it as your own
accomplishment? Give glory to God for the fruit He has worked in you and ask
Him to continue to grow humility in your heart.
