Reflections, October 11, 2009

Sunday, October 11^th, 2009

Reflections: God is a Jealous God

“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God...” Exodus 34:14 

Scripture Reading For This Week: Exodus 20;34; Numbers 11; Psalm 23;91;105;125; 2 Corinthians 11

Not only is God a jealous God, His name is Jealous! Would that we understood the fierce love that our Heavenly Father has toward His creation. God does not love us because we ask Him to, want Him to, or because we love Him. He loves us because He just does. He loves us because He is love. He loves us because He loves Himself. And when He sees us, He sees the love of Himself—His reflection when He created us.

Even before we entered our mothers womb. He loves us so much, that He sent His only Son to give us the opportunity to receive not only life eternally, but His unconditional love that washes away all hate, bitterness, shame. So why wouldn't He be a jealous God—when He sees us forfeiting our spiritual inheritance, and our lives to people, things and the enemy, that will only lead us further and further away from Him?

It is my fondest prayer that this week's Reflection will be a source of encouragement and enlightenment for your heart and soul. May the love of God consume you, as you desire to know the heart of the Father who has created you.

Yes. Our God is a jealous God. His very name is Jealous. However, God's jealous is a far cry from man's jealous. Man's jealousy is rooted in insecurity and doubt and fear: causing destructive and oftentimes, deadly behavior. Man's jealousy has nothing to do with love—just control and insecurities.

The jealousy of God is in terms of His love for His creation, and His desire to see us receive all that He has ordained for us. His jealousy arises when we place other gods before Him. W hen we neglect or forsake our walk with the One true God; to give our attention, worship and praise to another god or idol.

God's jealousy is based upon the fact that He knows anything and anyone that takes so much residency in our hearts and thoughts will only hinder us from serving Him, and receiving what he has ordained for us. We would no longer have His covering—forsaking the anointing. And thereby, falling prey to the enemy and his divisive tactics.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, vigilant: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Make no mistake about it: the enemy is definitely seeking to destroy us each and every opportunity he gets. And for him, it only takes an opening as small as a button hole to enter in and wreak havoc and destroy lives.

God desires for us to be in relationship with Him. He wants to shower us with His mercy and grace. He wants to open the doors that we never knew were there. He wants to lead us into wealthy places. But He is not willing to share His glory with no man—no other god. He is not willing to share us with someone and something that cannot, and does not appreciate who we are. He does not care to leave us as sitting ducks for the destruction that comes from putting other gods before Him. He loves us way too deep for that.

2 Corinthians 11:2 “ For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: For I espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

Jesus Christ is our bridegroom. We (believers), the church are the bride. God is our Father. And He desires to present us to the Groom without a spot or wrinkle. Without a blemish in sight. And He knows, the only way His bride, his church, can be ready is if we stay under the anointing—the covering of God, by abiding in His presence, spending time with the Father, and forsaking all other gods. 

He knows the craftiness of Satan. And the lengths to which he would go to strip us of eternal life with the Father and the manifestations of His blessings, here on earth.

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Make no mistake: the enemy understands that if he can get us distracted long enough, he has an opportunity to get in and plant seeds of doubt. Doubts that have us seeking cover, security and comfort in other things than God.

There are many things that have taken seat on the throne of our hearts. We serve many different “gods”, but have not looked at it as such. Anything and anyone that has taken our attention from the Father, and what He has called us to do, has in effect become our god.

Spouses can become our gods. I don't know how many times I have witnessed people worship the ground their mates walk on. The same with children, and other relationships. We don't take the time to thank God for His blessing. Rather, our world becomes wrapped up in the gift that was given. How can we teach our children correctly, when we place them above God? And people wonder why they struggle with such unappreciative and spoiled children. 

Perhaps your work has become your god. Instead of relying upon or trusting in God to be your total source; you have given your job the place of god. However, you work and work, and still are no closer to peace or financial freedom.

Maybe television has become your god. Do you find yourself spending more time watching TV, than praying or reading the word of God? Maybe it's the internet? Anything that consumes more of our time, or keeps us from seeking God, has become our god. Perhaps it's food. Are you someone that finds comfort in food, rather than on your knees in the presence of God? It's so easy for us to get caught up in so many other things, that we begin to neglect our relationship with the Father. With God, whose name is Jealous. 

Yes. Our God is a jealous God. Jealous over us. He desires for us to receive all that He has ordained for us. He knows that anything that dominates our time and attention, drawing us away from Him, would be detrimental to our walk in Him, and our ability to receive all that He has ordained. He is not jealous like man—out of insecurity. Or, like the devil: out of envy and pride. His jealousy is because He desires that nothing hinders us from being ready for Christ's return, and for fellowship with Him.

God highly esteems your presence. He loves everything about you. He made you, after all, in His very image. Why wouldn't He want to spend time with you? You are a part of Him, and He a part of you. 

I hope that you give thought to your time with God this week. May the spirit of peace and prosperity rest, rule and abide in your: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social, and financial lives. God, whose name is Jealous, waits for you. He seeks the pleasure of your company, in his presence. Be Blessed.

©2009 Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.