A Love Beyond Comparison - Encouragement for Today - March 4, 2020

Peace and perspective from God's timeless truths. [View this email in your browser]( Encouragement for Today --------------------------------------------------------------- [Carrie Stephens]March 4, 2020 A Love Beyond Comparison [CARRIE STEPHENS]( “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.” [1 John 5:2-4]( (ESV) A few years ago, I visited a friend's house for the first time. From the moment I entered, I was bombarded with exquisite beauty. Everywhere I looked, I saw things I longed to have. My eyes moved from the flooring she had chosen to the art on the walls to the lights hanging from the ceiling and finally to God, who had decided to allow me to walk naively into this den of jealous temptation. Despite being caught in this death-trap of comparison, when she offered me some tea and pulled out the chips and salsa, I was all like, “I’m-fine-no-big-deal-what’s-up-with-you?” Then I excused myself to the most perfect powder room ever so I could scrape myself off the immaculate parquet floors and ask Jesus to help me survive the rest of the visit. On my way to the bathroom, I texted my husband and told him I might not make it out of this perfect house alive. My jealousy could cause my heart to explode at some point during this visit, so I asked him to please take care of the children and our IKEA furniture sitting on our 1990s cream tile floors. He texted back: “So sorry. Must be hard.” I pretended to believe he meant that in a supportive way. The Holy Spirit met me there in my dream bathroom. He offered me a new version of the 10th commandment: “Let her have her things.” The words stopped me dead in my tracks. Obeying this command suddenly seemed so simple and liberating. Let her have her things. There was really no reason not to. I knew she had a stack of troubles as high as anyone else’s. I cognitively recognized her life was far from perfect. And for goodness’ sake, this was a person I loved — like, really and truly loved — and yet I’d forgotten that when I was blinded by her material blessings. I needed the love of God to overcome my jealousy. I wasn’t left out or forgotten by God just because her vintage chandelier made mine look more shabby than chic. In fact, the more I obediently let her have her things, the deeper my awareness grew of God’s love for both of us. John confirmed this connection between obedience and love when he wrote, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith” ([1 John 5:2-4](. [Continue reading...]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Subscription Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( --------------------------------------------------------------- © 2020 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 500, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Encouragement for Today. [Link](