Conviction of the Day

I got this off the Hebrews 10:24 group on facebook. It spoke to me because I believe that this is very applicable to me. I always compare myself with others and look down on myself. This is from the member "Jermaine Wall".

Conviction of the Day:

Just discovered a break-through in my sin of comparison. I've been convicted over and over about me comparing myself, my circumstances and everything in between to the other people and their circumstances. In many ways, the crux of everything is me saying "That's not fair. Why does so-and-so get this, but I don't?"After pondering about the wide variety of blessings that God's put on me (thanks to the prompting and encouraging from a few brothers in Christ), and reading a few Biblical resources, I've come to a few conclusions:
(1) Other people could say the same thing about me. "That's not fair. Why does Jermaine get so-and-so, but I don't?" I wouldn't be able to answer that, because God's blessings are evident in my life.
(2) God continues to meet every single need of myself and my brothers/sisters. Why complain?
(3) "Fairness" is actually a guise for pride -- why does everything have to be about me?
(4) The path our Lord took while on Earth is one that stands up against "fair" and "justice." While our King never sinned against God or His neighbours, Jesus always received the unjust and unfair brunt of situations. He continued to love. He continued to pour Himself out for His people. He continued to take insults and hatred. He endured the mocking of men. He was scorned by men, and considered dirt. He was sent to the Cross for our sins, to satisfy the just punishment we deserved
(5) Imagine if Jesus lashed out against those who were "unfair" or "unjust" to Him? We'd all be going to Hell.
(6) Did our Lord "deserve" to be killed and punished on a Cross? No, yet he bore our sins. "He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. - Isaiah 53:3-5

My challenge:

How can we then view our circumstances? Can we continue to look at things as a matter of "fair" or "unfair"? Can we continue to complain about life, all the while forgetting that God disciplines those He loves? What does this leave us, Christians? What options do we have left? Are we going to continue day-dreaming about what we could have, or are we going to seek to glorify God where He's placed us?

I remain challenged by my sin of comparison, but by looking at the Cross, and cherishing the fact that He took the wrath that was due to us, I can now view life differently and rejoice. I'm saved! I'm a son of God! Comparison...the only one we can compare ourselves to is God, and not others. Let's strive for Holiness.

--Jermaine Wall