In Acts 17, Paul is in Thessalonica teaching and preaching, explaining the gospel, telling the story of the Messiah. It says in verse 4, a large number were persuaded. But here's the verse that upset me, verse 5...."But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, and started a riot in the city."
What in the world is that about?? Why when someone else gets something, do we always head straight for jealousy? Especially in the church??? And it only gets worse....
Later in the chapter, people decide that Paul should leave and go to Berea to avoid all of the chaos. But look at verse 13, "but when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up."
Are you kidding me?? Oh, I so don't want to be that way. Let me be happy for other people's blessings! I want to be able to see someone get that healing they have been praying for and rejoice in it with them. I want to see a friend finally get pregnant, and shout for joy with them. I want to see another believer hear the calling on their life, and honestly wish them the best. Why is that so hard?
Same thing on a church level....I never want to feel upset because another church is seeing the movement of God. I never want to be jealous of the building, or instruments, or of anything that another church may have. That's not what we are called to do as believers. We are supposed to rejoice WITH each other, and FOR each other no matter what is going on with us.
Lord, help me to always see the joy in other people's blessing and not only my own. I want to see YOUR goodness everywhere I look. I want to SHOUT for joy at all Your glory on this earth. Amen!!
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