Insidious is defined as operating or proceeding in an inconspicuous or seemly harmless way but actually with grave effect: source Dictionary.com

I started off today’s devotion with a definition so that my intent will be clear.

Job 5:2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

Proverbs 3:31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

Ezekiel 35:11 Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee.

Envy is insidious. It decays the soul from the inside with but a tiny spot on the surface. It is such a little thing. Surely such a little thing cannot do such harm? But it does. It can hide behind humility and cause root decay. It does not have to show itself outwardly like anger and is more dangerous because of it.

It steals joy and gratitude yet does not quiet the music or the singing. Its speech can be confident and misleading. “I am so happy for you.” “The Lord has blessed you.” “Isn’t that wonderful.” All the while it eats at you soul with quiet distain and contempt.

Envy is not vain, it works its insidious delights in the depths of the heart. It will not allow the heart to love as the Lord intended, with all sincerity and selfless service.

James 3:13-17 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Envy is insidious.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

If seeing is believing, then what is believing without seeing? Some would say faith, but I do not. I do not subscribe to blind faith.

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Knowing that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word, then faith is led to go and do in light, not darkness.

This leaves us with a lack of understanding about “all things” because they include everything that faith is not. They also include my mistakes. I say mistakes rather than sin because it less painful to admit ignorance than willful disobedience. We ought to know better in some cases but being human we are easily distracted by real dangers in our life. Death and destruction move us emotionally and even more so the closer they happen to people close to us, regionally or emotionally.

I am not comforted by words of politicians, news anchors nor pundits. I am only comforted by the One who has proven Himself to me, to be faithful, to love unconditionally and lead me in what to do in the midst of all this turmoil.

Some may think that makes me sound like a baby clinging to my security blanket. So be it. Compared to the One who knows, and does and is; my God, yes, I am a baby. I should have no confidence in myself except that which is shown by faith. If He is strong when I am weak, then let me be weak that He may be strong.

I may not like what I am seeing in this world but that does not make Romans 8:28 a lie. I may not know what is coming next, but how to act, and what to do now will be found in the Word and not in the words and works of men who have no faith to guide them.

Psalm 69:20, 29 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.