Dr. Richard Blackaby is posting to his own weblog, where he writes about God's activity in BMI, as well as his own spiritual reflections as he spends time with the Lord.
Monthly Bible Study Dr. Blackaby teaches a monthly Bible study called God in the Workplace where he focuses on helping people know how to practically walk in a real and personal relationship with God in their work place.
Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. (1 Samuel 18:15)
Jealousy is a destructive attitude that poisons the way you view life. It is so harmful that God condemned coveting in two of the Ten Commandments. King Saul was a jealous and insecure man. He had been elevated to the highest position in Israel. He had been blessed in numerous ways. But Saul saw that David was gaining the attention and praise of the Israelites. The Israelites recognized Saul’s accomplishments, but they also praised David, whom God was using to accomplish even more (1 Sam. 18:7). Rather than rejoicing that God had empowered another to defeat their enemies, Saul became murderously jealous and sought to destroy David.
Jealousy is an abomination in the life of a Christian. God has made us His children. None of us deserves to be God’s child, so there is no need to compare our blessings with those of other children of God. Jealousy is self-centeredness at its worst. Jealousy robs us of joy and chokes out contentment. Jealousy hardens the heart and stifles gratitude. Jealousy assumes that God’s resources are too limited for Him to bless another and still bless us.
Saul grew so preoccupied with his jealousy toward David that he neglected important things, bringing suffering and pain upon his people. Because of his jealousy, Saul’s family was destroyed.
Watch over your heart! If you find yourself unable to rejoice in the success of others, beware! Do not let jealousy taint your heart. Repent before it robs you of any more of the joy and contentment God desires for you. When you are tempted to compare your success in life to that of another, ask God to remind you of all the ways He has blessed you undeservedly.
'Great Commission Resurgence' must be Fueled by Relationship
by Mark Kelly (Baptist Press)
If Southern Baptists want to see a "Great Commission Resurgence," Henry Blackaby believes they need to focus on the relationship between disciples and the living Lord Jesus, not launch a new emphasis on evangelism.
"I have felt for a long time that Southern Baptists have focused on evangelism and missed discipleship," Blackaby told Baptist Press May 11. "The most important part of the Great Commission is 'teach them to practice everything I have commanded you.' That's discipleship and that's the heart of the Great Commission. If we want to have a resurgence in the Great Commission, there's got to be a refocusing on the priorities of Christ for discipleship."
Blackaby, a longtime pastor, college president and coauthor of the "Experiencing God" series of Bible study materials, said declining baptism and membership statistics in the Southern Baptist Convention reflect not so much a lack of passion for Christ's command to make disciples as a lack of relationship with Jesus Christ.
