Does The Devil Wear Green

DOES THE DEVIL WEAR GREEN

By Carolyn Dale Newell

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

James 3:16 (NKJV)

 Have you ever been overcome with jealousy? We don’t want to feel jealous, but there is   Satan, in green, shooting those fiery arrows right to our hearts. I’ll be enjoying someone’s blog, and when I see their double-digit likes, that is the moment of attack. How do they get that many likes when I only have two? Jealousy rushes in, stirring up fleshy feelings that I want to crush. The enemy begins to whisper. His hissing tells me that my work isn’t good enough. He attempts to convince me that I am wasting my time.

Maybe he strikes you in a different way. Like when someone else can afford the beach vacation, the new car, or the cute outfit, but you can’t. Perhaps her child never acts up in the store while yours cries loudly. He may show up in various shades, but he is always green.

Once there was a jealous king, Saul. He was so envious of David that he made numerous attempts to kill him, hunting him down like an animal. David had slain Goliath. He had killed many more men than Saul. Everyone loved David, even Saul’s children, especially Jonathan.

This true friend had every right to be jealous of David. Jonathan was the rightful heir to the throne, but God was removing the throne from Saul’s family, and David would be the next king. Rather than being jealous of David, Jonathan helped him dodge Saul’s murderous plots.

How did Jonathan remain a true friend without giving jealousy a foothold? “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Jonathan not only resisted the temptation to be jealous, he went one step further when he helped David escape.

Friend, jealousy is no small sin. James says that where envy exists, evil is always present.

Jealous arrows may strike us, but they don’t have to stick. Let’s wholeheartedly cheer others on when they succeed and God blesses them. Focus on Jonathan as our example, and Satan with his green garb will flee from us.

Heavenly Father,

Cleanse and forgive us of all jealousy! Put such a love in our hearts for one another that the jealous darts cannot penetrate. Thank You, amen.

DIG DEEPER

Read 1 Sam. 20. How deep was Jonathan’s love for David?

HIKING THE TRAIL

Every time jealousy arises, take it to God. Ask God to give you victory in this area.

Copyright 2015 Carolyn Dale Newell.

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