14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.
Do our lives arouse envy in other people? Envy for the God we serve? Envy for the stuff we have? Or maybe the god we serve? Do our marriages exemplify the kind of love Christ has for the body of believers, sacrificial, self-giving service? Or would the observers of your life say, they don’t have anything that I want. They fight like us, they speak down to their kids like us, they seem plastic and insincere. Paul wanted his observers to envy his life, his ministry, the change that had taken place in him since Jesus interrupted his plans. When was the last time Jesus interrupted your plans causing great things of eternal value to happen? I have to confess, I don’t see interruptions as often as I desire. My desire for them outstrips my willingness to do what it takes, death to my selfish desires, to see God work the way he wants to work. Perhaps you too have a gap between your desire for God to work in and through your life and the willingness to do what it takes, surrender. Move an inch toward God today.
The Arnold Journey 