The Green Mile

What does the color Green remind you of? March maybe, because of St. Patty's day. Maybe Spring because of the new life. Maybe you're a fan of the Packers. What about allergy season? Or, infection.

Green is also associated with ENVY. We talked about envy last night in our youth Bible study. One youth reminded us of the synonym, JEALOUSY. To, in other words, want what you don't have. You envy others who have it, and you become jealous because you don't. We talked about people that we are envious of. On the list were the rich. Athletes were mentioned.Others among the many were pretty girls, people with good parents, and those with power. It was obvious to us that we all have envious hearts, but we seemed to all agree on another point as well:

What Christ Has For Us Is Better.

We looked at our lives. We saw instances where we were given what we had asked for and it usually didn't turn out like we had planned. The stuff that we so desired usually came up short. It wouldn't be enough once we had it. Or, it would make us miserable. The bad relationship or big house would leave us with more cleaning up to do than we had in the first place. This conversation echoed the statement: What Christ has for us is so much better than anything this world can offer us.

But, life gets hard. Our desires run wild. And, sometimes we forget what God has promised us while we look at what our neighbor has. Here are some verses to help you not turn green:

Romans 12:2

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Hebrews 13:5"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
 

John 10:28-30

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”

Luke 22:25-3025 Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called 'friends of the people.'26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves. 28 "You have stayed with me in my time of trial.29 And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right30 to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.