Head: Know God's Word | Heart: Love God | Hands: Follow God's Way

Read Acts 5-6

Head

In Acts 5-6, the early church is having more trouble with the Sanhedrin (the ruling body of the Jews). The early church continues to grow and spread the good news about Jesus’ resurrection, and as the orchestrators of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, the Sanhedrin REALLY wants to shut down all this Jesus talk. However, despite their threats and punishments, the apostles kept talking about Jesus, and the early church kept growing. 

Heart

As I read these chapters, lots of things jumped out to me: God’s power, the apostles’ courage, Gamaliel’s wise words. However, the word that stuck with me the most was jealousy. Acts 5 says the men of the Sanhedrin were filled with jealousy as they watched the apostles heal, preach, and start a movement. They were also jealous of Jesus when the crowds followed, adored, and praised him during his earthly ministry. James 3:16 says, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” Do you ever feel jealous?  Maybe when someone makes a better grade than you or comes to school in a new outfit you wanted or the coach lets a teammate play more than you get to? I can struggle with jealousy too, and it’s scary to think that I’m dealing with the same emotion that the Sanhedrin was so long ago. Jealousy is a normal human emotion, but if we allow it to grow and fester, it can do some major damage. Thankfully, when we give our emotions to God, he can heal our hearts and turn our eyes back toward what really matters.

Hands

Is there anyone you are jealous of? If so, confess this to God and ask him to take your jealousy and turn it into contentment and gratitude. Make a list of the things you are grateful for today. Gratitude is a great way to combat jealousy!

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for hearing our prayers and forgiving our sins. Please help me as I struggle with jealousy and give me a heart of gratitude.