Evoke Jealousy
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (ESV)
Daniel found himself in the Medo-Persian kingdom when Israel was led into captivity by the Babylonians and the surrounding nations. Daniel found favour with the Lord, but also with the rulers who appointed him as administrator, along with two others, over their kingdom.
Daniel was devoted to the Lord. He placed the Lord at the centre of his life and did not allow the idolatry and immorality rampant in the kingdom to influence him. He was a man of integrity. A humble man, upon whom God had bestowed wisdom, giving him the ability to govern in an exceptional and God-honouring way. Daniel’s excellent spirit caught Darius’s attention, who planned to promote him to the highest rank in his kingdom. This evoked jealousy in the hearts of his fellow administrators. They could not stand the idea of Daniel being above them in rank. So they planned to throw a spanner in the works. They plotted to get rid of Daniel by finding something they could use against him.
In the Line of Fire
We have all found ourselves in a situation like this. Perhaps at work, school, sports club or even at church. We find ourselves the target of jealousy and malicious gossip. Our achievements are undermined and questioned. Our integrity is subject to scrutiny. We find ourselves in the line of fire. Our baser instinct would have us retaliate and stoop to their level, verbally and perhaps in our actions. But as followers of Jesus Christ, God desires a different response. A response that will honour and glorify Him with our words and our deeds. Colossians 4:6 (ESV) says
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
When God’s favour is upon our lives, and we are under attack because of it, we can evoke jealousy, but a different kind of jealousy. We can evoke jealousy by the way we handle the situation. We can trust the Lord to give us His words. Words laced with love, grace and peace that make them jealous of the life of Jesus in us. By doing so, we will heap burning coals on their heads (Romans 12:20).
Our words have power – power to add fuel to a fire or to be a soothing, restorative balm. The choice is ours.
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:24 (ESV)
Reflection:
When you find yourself in a situation like this, how do you respond?
Prayer:
Lord, I find it difficult to respond well when I am under fire. Show me how to lace my words with Your love, grace and peace. Help me to evoke jealousy in others for Your life in me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
