"for I the Lord your God am a jealous God.." [Exodus 20:5]
Have you really ever stopped and pondered that statement?
The Lord Himself tells us that He is a jealous God.
This is a statement FROM God TO us, His people.
He wants us to get this, like really get this.
"I am a jealous God."
Picture what that means, exactly.
I think back to those many times in my life that I've been jealous. [The Lord knows that has been too many times to count!]
If you know me, then you know that I love to sing. I especially love to sing praise to my God & Father. I love to be a part of a group of people singing praises to God. A group of TRUE WORSHIPERS surrounding me with their praise & inspiring me to go deeper with Him. It brings me joy to sing out praise to my God & King. I love Him. How could I not?
But then that brings me to the moments of weakness-- jealousy. How many times have I ever been to a concert or worship service when I have heard a woman sing & I have loathed her because of her amazing voice. How many times have I been in front of a brilliant singer & I have doubted myself because of my jealousy for her voice. So many times I become so self-conscious because I hear someone amazing & think that God can't use me because my voice is not like hers. I can't sing like that, so I must not be useful to God. Then I begin to feel sorrowful because now my joy has been taken away by my stupid jealousy!
I guess my jealousy turns into self pity, which becomes a real joy stealer.
But then I wonder what a jealous God becomes like when the one He created turns away.
I'm sure my God does not turn to self pity & wonder what He is doing wrong-- He can do all things & He knows it. But He can't change my free will, & if I choose to turn away from Him, all He can do is burn with jealousy, stay by my side, & wait for me to choose Him again. I imagine a God full of the same sorrow that I feel.
God wants our full attention. He wants all of it-- everything.
I don't want my God be jealous for me. I don't want my God to cry out for me. I don't want to cause my God any sorrow. I am His & He is mine. I want Him to know that always!
If God wants our full attention, then we need to understand that this leads to a relationship with Him. Knowing, loving, & following God does not mean to acknowledge Him on one day of the week.
God is a jealous God, He said it Himself.
He wants ALL of our attention.
What that means to you, I don't know. Everyone's relationship with Christ is different. But we need to understand the seriousness of what we call our "relationship".
God is always going to be there waiting for our attention whether we give it to Him or not.
So what does that mean to you?
What do you think a "relationship" looks like?
We're all gonna fall. But in between those times that we do, we can give Him all we've got. You in?
