Day 128

1 Samuel 2:22–4:22; John 5:24-47; Psalm 106:1-12; Proverbs 14:30-31

OUR READING TODAY provided a lot to ruminate on.

The story in 1 Samuel told us of Samuel’s calling and rise to prominence amid the unethical behavior of his brethren in the Tabernacle at Shiloh. Eli was the high priest at the time, and he had grown old and fat. Eli’s sons were to be the next generation of priests, but they were busy pilfering the best of the sacrificial food and having sex with the women who assisted at the Tabernacle. God called Samuel away from this example, and his first prophetic word was a difficult judgment on Eli and his sons. This judgment came true shortly thereafter: The Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant in battle, Eli’s sons were killed in the same battle, and Eli fell over and broke his neck when he received the news.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus spoke words that are clear and direct:

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

The implications of this truth in our lives are profound. Those of us who listen to Jesus’ words and believe in the God who sent His Son will never be condemned for sin —ever. This is unspeakably good news. This is precisely the Good News that we are to be living in and spreading to the ends of the earth.

Our reading from Proverbs today spoke practically about our health: “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body” (Proverbs 14:30). Often, the stresses of life send us toward the medical community, where we seek a pill to cure our ills or a procedure to correct what has begun failing. Although science and medicine are beautiful gifts from God, intentionally seeking peace within is a preventative medicine that is always available and can profoundly affect our health.

The proverb goes on to say, “Jealousy is like cancer in the bones” (Proverbs 14:30). This is kind of a big deal. The Bible is equating rivalry, vengeful competition, resentment, and suspicion to cancer. And who signs up to have cancer?

Choosing to constantly compare our lives to others in the pursuit of identity and superiority is like signing up to have cancer. Invite the Holy Spirit into jealous areas in your life. According to the Bible, those things are eating you alive —and if you stop to consider it, you can feel the truth in this. Thankfully, there is a cure. Ask God to show you what a peaceful heart looks, feels, and acts like today, as you release the cancer of jealousy that will only kill you in the end.

WORSHIP:

Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the LORD? Who can ever praise him enough?