Ugly green monster!

I'm dealing with some issues of jealousy today.  I won't discuss the specifics because quite frankly, it doesn't matter.  I have known for some time that there would be some things that might would trigger the "ugly green monster" to show it's face, but I have been praying hard against it when necessary.  Well today is one of those days.  Soooo....let's just see what the bible has to say about jealousy, shall we?

James 3:16 says, "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and EVERY evil practice."  Yikes!  Not just some evil, but EVERY evil thing.  That in and of itself is enough to make me check myself and wonder, if God's love is in me and love is not jealous or selfish, where is this coming from?  Well for me, some of it comes from insecurities that I struggle with.  It comes from not fully believing or understanding my identity in Jesus.  It is also a check to see if I am walking and living in the spirit or in the flesh. 

1 Corinthians 3:3 says, "For you are still of the flesh.  For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?"  We were never meant to be able to do or be anything on our own.  It is by the Spirit and the gift of Jesus Christ that we are able to be "more than conquerors through Him who loves us."  When I stop acting in the flesh and get immersed in God's word, I am able to combat jealousy with truth!  But when I start doubting truth and walking on my own, I start to believe the lies and succumb to the death trap of jealousy. 

I think we all have our things that we struggle with.  And in my situation, this particular bout with jealousy only pops us now and then.  But I know I can overcome with my feet firmly planted in God's word and my eyes set, not on the here and now, but on things above.