"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?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Run to Jesus
For some reason there is an image that has been playing over and over in my mind lately. I'll have to tell you the story for you to understand it clearly.
When I came back from being in southern India for a month, I met my parents in the Dulles airport in Washington DC. As I walked into the baggage claim area I saw my parents before they saw me. Now, what I saw is a perfect representation of my parents and of who they are, and this is what plays over and over in my mind. My mom is standing at the carousel waiting for my baggage, not even looking for me. My dad on the other hand, is sitting on a bench looking frantically around the room for any sign of his daughter. I watched as in a split 30-seconds of me walking in, he spots me. And what does he do? He jumps up quickly and sprints across the vast open room towards me. So I let him run to me and give me a huge hug with tears in his eyes and tell me how much he misses me. Boy, do I love that man.
I couldn't understand why this kept playing in my mind, but now I understand it.
The other night my dad asks me what I am studying in Grad school. I tell him "Evangelism and Church Planting" because that is what it is. He asks me what Church Planting is. I tell him, then ask him if he knows what Evangelism is. He doesn't so I tell him that too. Upon telling him, he says "why would you want to do that? cultures around the world already have their own religions" and before I even had a chance to think about an answer to that, within 30 seconds, he answers his own question and says: "It's because what they believe is wrong, right?" and asks it with a little chuckle, just to humor himself, I think. "That's right, dad, you're on the right track!" I say before the Lord played the airport clip over in my mind again, of my dad running up to me with open arms.
I realized that this picture of my dad that kept playing over and over was God trying to tell me something. I heard God say "this is how your father will run to Me." And then I could totally see it! My dad, with the same excitement and love on his face, at that moment where he gets it, where he realizes who God really is, running to Him as fast as he can with open arms. That's the moment when my dad falls to his knees at Jesus feet and repents, asking Jesus to come into his life. I can see it now..
I've always known there is hope for my parents to find Jesus. I never gave up on praying for them, but sometimes I do start to doubt whether or not they would ever get it. Now I have more faith that they will. I can see the day ahead!
And that's when I realized that my relationship with Christ should be like this every day. That every day I should be running to the feet of Jesus like my father ran to me that day. Sprinting to Him with arms wide open, ready to listen and learn and pray.
So now I know why the picture of my father in the airport plays over and over in my head each day. It is my reminder to run to Jesus.
When I came back from being in southern India for a month, I met my parents in the Dulles airport in Washington DC. As I walked into the baggage claim area I saw my parents before they saw me. Now, what I saw is a perfect representation of my parents and of who they are, and this is what plays over and over in my mind. My mom is standing at the carousel waiting for my baggage, not even looking for me. My dad on the other hand, is sitting on a bench looking frantically around the room for any sign of his daughter. I watched as in a split 30-seconds of me walking in, he spots me. And what does he do? He jumps up quickly and sprints across the vast open room towards me. So I let him run to me and give me a huge hug with tears in his eyes and tell me how much he misses me. Boy, do I love that man.
I couldn't understand why this kept playing in my mind, but now I understand it.
The other night my dad asks me what I am studying in Grad school. I tell him "Evangelism and Church Planting" because that is what it is. He asks me what Church Planting is. I tell him, then ask him if he knows what Evangelism is. He doesn't so I tell him that too. Upon telling him, he says "why would you want to do that? cultures around the world already have their own religions" and before I even had a chance to think about an answer to that, within 30 seconds, he answers his own question and says: "It's because what they believe is wrong, right?" and asks it with a little chuckle, just to humor himself, I think. "That's right, dad, you're on the right track!" I say before the Lord played the airport clip over in my mind again, of my dad running up to me with open arms.
I realized that this picture of my dad that kept playing over and over was God trying to tell me something. I heard God say "this is how your father will run to Me." And then I could totally see it! My dad, with the same excitement and love on his face, at that moment where he gets it, where he realizes who God really is, running to Him as fast as he can with open arms. That's the moment when my dad falls to his knees at Jesus feet and repents, asking Jesus to come into his life. I can see it now..
I've always known there is hope for my parents to find Jesus. I never gave up on praying for them, but sometimes I do start to doubt whether or not they would ever get it. Now I have more faith that they will. I can see the day ahead!
And that's when I realized that my relationship with Christ should be like this every day. That every day I should be running to the feet of Jesus like my father ran to me that day. Sprinting to Him with arms wide open, ready to listen and learn and pray.
So now I know why the picture of my father in the airport plays over and over in my head each day. It is my reminder to run to Jesus.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. ~ Matthew 11:28-30
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