The bible says in John 10:10 that The thief [The devil] comes only to steal and kill and destroy. By comparing ourselves to others we are allowing him to steal our joy. The question I have: is it worth it??
Most people know the story of the 3 little pigs, the story suggests that if you do your work before you play you will get a head. It also says that you should not build with straw nor sticks, but build something that lasts, build with bricks. Jesus that we He is the corner stone upon which we should build our faith. He is our brick, the author of our Joy and our faith and if we look to Him, He will help us to find an inner joy when when our circumstances or comparisons, says that we are not good enough.
If you look back over many of my blog posts, you can see where I can compared my weightloss success, my running endeavors and a vast many other things to that of other people. It saddens me to think that I have never thought of these things through the Father's Eyes. He has prepared my life specifically for me and my constantly comparing myself to the life He has designed for others, I am telling Him what He has planned for me is not good enough. I decided that my Joy comes from something else other than things that have an eternal value.
I seen this yesterday at the baseball field, where a group of young athletes have given up simply because one person has compared their team with that of others, and to this person their journey does not measure up to what he or she thinks it should be. Instead of realizing that the kids are learning something and having fun and get exercise, this person think that the entire experience is based upon the score at the end and how much time his or her child plays on the field. Teaching our kids to compare themselves to others, both on & off the field, is not only stealing their joy but their self worth. You will never measure up to what you think someone else has.
The thief has only come to steal, kill and destroy By letting him into your heart and mind to compare yourself to others, he is doing his job extremely well by stealing your joy.And while there are many things you can do, and while you can certainly build a house of brick, and live a healthy lifestyle or win baseball games - no matter how hard we try, we cannot save ourselves. As well as the material things that bring us temporary joy and happiness,will not add eternal value to your lives.
I am not advocating in any fashion that getting a pedicure( for an example) has not eternal value and brings only temporary happiness, should no longer be done. I am saying that if those types of things are the only things that fill your life with joy, then there is something missing. Or someone missing. The love of the Savior that has " come to give you life and give it abundantly."
We cannot save ourselves, but Jesus can, Jesus does. We cannot overcome sin, death and the devil by ourselves, but Jesus has. Jesus has overcome by the cross, and the empty tomb, and resurrection from the dead. Jesus has not only overcome, but Jesus has conquered. Jesus saves. Jesus can save us from the world, the flesh, and the devil, and Jesus can even save us from ourselves. Jesus came that he might give us life, not just ordinary life, but abundant life, everlasting life in the new heaven and the new earth where there is no more sin, or sickness, or suffering, or sorrow.
We need a Savior from the one that seeks to kill, steal and destroy our joy. My joy. Your joy. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes from the word of God. Have you heard about the man who sticks closer than a brother? Who has laid down His life for you and me? The man who will walk with you in spirit for the rest of your days if you only ask Him too? Whenever you see loss, death, and destruction you know that the enemy is at work. The only way to combat darkness is through the Light, and Jesus Christ is the Light of the world.
And while many people know about the 3 little pigs, the only thing that really matters, the only thing we really need to know, is to know about our Savior, to know about Jesus. People have taught us about Jesus, because Jesus is our Savior and we need a savior from the world, the flesh, and the devil who is all seeking to steal, kill and destroy your life, your soul and your joy.
The Spirit works through the word to create faith in our hearts. Faith which teaches us to know our Saviors voice. Faith which leads us to follow him, faith which hope in the abundant and everlasting life which we are promised in his name. So Jesus has called us to life. Through life with Jesus you can have an inner joy that passes all understanding, when times beyond hard and you have no where else to turn Jesus can fill your soul with a joy, a hope and a peace that can only come from knowing Him.
~Kristy~
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