Jealous for God

Jealousy is never perceived as a positive character trait. Most of the time we think of it as resenting another person due to their success or opportunities. Some confuse jealousy with envy. They are not the same thing. Envy means to intensely desire something that another has, while jealousy resents that the other person has it. There is another meaning for jealousy though. It also means to have an intense desire to keep something you already have. Whether its a job that you work hard to keep or the freedoms we enjoy as American citizens, both require a jealous mindset that drives our behavior to keep that which we have. In other words, we work hard to keep it because we do not want to lose it. The Bible tells us in Duet. 4.24 "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." God doesn't resent our successes. In fact the opposite is true. He is our biggest encourager and fan. God wants us to succeed. God is jealous for us, in that, He made us for relationship and for a divine purpose. He desires that we enjoy these gifts and not lose them. God's heart breaks when we go our own way and rebel against Him, for He knows the path that leads to life as well as the path that leads to destruction. He wants us to enjoy life, experience success, fulfill His purpose for us, and to know the freedom from sin's consequence that comes through faith in Jesus. Are we jealous for God? Do we desire Him above all things? Or do we put people and things above God? When we desire the world more than God, we create a distance between us and God that only confession and repentance can restore. The Psalmist said in Psalm 73.25 "And earth has nothing I desire besides you." Our greatest desire ought to be for the Living God, not earthly treasures. Nothing should take precedence in our hearts over God. This is quite difficult to do since we allow our children and families, jobs and treasures, pleasures and selfish desires to take the place God deserves. God told the church in Revelation 2.4 "You have forsaken the love you had at first." God desires you to love Him with all your heart. How do we regain the passion we once had for God? Do you remember the excitement when you first found God? Do you still have the passion or has it become centered on something else? God shouts out "repent" and "come back to me." My prayer is that we would be jealous for God, not allowing anything to interfere with our relationship with Him. Are you jealous for God? Do you protect your time of worship so nothing else takes precedence? Do you spend time in His Word and in prayer? If not, these are signs that you have forsaken your first love. Is it time for you to become jealous for God again? Blessings, Pastor Pete