12 Sep, 2006
I want what you have!
Courtney Brown was just 15 and he was killed on Lyndale Avenue north in Minneapolis for the jersey he was wearing.
Friday, police announced the arrest of three juveniles in connection to Brown's murder. During a news conference Friday afternoon, Lt. Lee Edwards of the Minneapolis Police Department, said the names and mug shots of the juvenile suspects would not be released. He did say they were 17, 16 and 13.
Brown was gunned down Saturday, September 2nd after he and his brother were confronted by a group who demanded his throwback Morgan State University basketball jersey while he was walking with his brother.
He was attempting to give them his jersey when he was shot.
The teen would have started the new school year on Tuesday at Edison High School.
Genesis 4:1-8
Cain and Abel
4:1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
Galatians 5:19-20
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, (ESV)
I could hardly believe the cold-hearted evil jealousy that led some teenager to kill another over a jersey. But then I remembered that the Bible has a story that makes us shake our heads in disbelief.
What does today's God's Story teach us about jealousy?
The sin of jealousy has been around since Adam and Eve's boys. We often just think jealousy is no big deal, but it obviously is, because it can be deadly!
Though we are not told the exact reason for the LORD not accepting Cain's offering, it does seem that Cain had a problem with his motives and attitude. While Abel brought his best to the LORD, Cain did not. The fact that the LORD confronted Cain about his sin and gave him a chance to do the right thing and Cain refused - proves that he remained jealous. Amazing! Being jealous for God's blessing led to murder!
Paul makes it real clear in the Galatians passage that the sin of jealousy comes out of our hearts when we refuse to follow the Holy Spirit's leading in our lives. Our natural sinful nature produces evil results - one of which is jealousy.
Be honest. What makes you jealous and why?
How can you connect today's God's Story to your life?
Think through the definition of jealousy - the obsessive desire to have the same as someone else
Are you obsessed with any of the following?
- someone's good looks
- someone's boyfriend or girlfriend
- someone's car
- someone's money
- someone's clothes
- someone's talent, like musical or athletic
- someone's popularity
- someone's family
- someone's knowledge
- someone's spiritual faith
- someone's (you fill in the blank _______________)
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story to others?
- Make a written list of what makes you jealous and keep it handy for the next month. Pray for Jesus to give you victory over the temptations on your list. As you become more aware of jealousy in your life, you will see it in the lives of others. Be careful and ready to forgive, not judge. They may notice a change in your life and you may have the opportunity to share your story.
- Use today's DAILYBIDE with some friends, your small group, or youth group to deal with the problem of jealousy together.
- May 2008 [8]
- April 2008 [22]
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- February 2008 [19]
- January 2008 [21]
- December 2007 [20]
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- October 2007 [20]
- September 2007 [19]
- August 2007 [20]
- July 2007 [18]
- June 2007 [19]
- May 2007 [18]
- April 2007 [13]
- March 2007 [17]
- February 2007 [14]
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- December 2006 [6]
- November 2006 [15]
- October 2006 [18]
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- July 2006 [14]
- June 2006 [4]
