Envy

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Saturday morning, the 25th of April, 2026, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Acts 13:45: ”But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.” If we go down a little bit further to verse 49: ”And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.” Then we go down a little bit further to verse 50. Paul and Barnabas were then expelled from their region. Envy - envy is a terrible thing folks, and what does envy mean? I was speaking to my wife about it. I said, “What do you think the definition of envy is?” She said, “Somebody wanting to be like you, whoever that person may be, or wanting to have what you have.”Now, the Jews saw how the multitudes were responding to the Gospel of Paul and Barnabas preaching about Jesus, and they became envious. They wanted what they had, but they didn’t have it and they were not prepared to change. We have to be so careful about how we conduct ourselves. Remember the old story about the old preacher who was accused by all the local churches in town of sheep-stealing, taking members of their churches and bringing them to his church. He said, “No, I am not sheep-stealing,” he said, “but if the grass is greener on my side of the fence, I can’t stop the sheep jumping over the fence!”Oh, my dear friend, we don’t have to be envious of anyone. All we have to do is preach the Gospel. That is what Paul said to Timothy. Preach the Gospel, not a type of Gospel, not a compromised Gospel - the whole Gospel, not changing it to suit the crowd! People don’t like that. People want the truth, they want it straight, and they want it from the heart, filled with lashings of love. Perfect love casts out all fear! 1 John 4:18We really need to get our act together. No one should be left out. If people envy you, well, you know what the Lord Jesus said - He said in Luke 6:23, He said: “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy for indeed your reward is great in Heaven.” That’s when people exclude you, they cast you out, they actually hate you and they do it for the sake because they are envious of what you have got. Do not compromise the Gospel!Jesus bless you and goodbye.