This is going to be kind of a Valentine post. Not between us and our spouses, nor between us and our friends, but between us and the One who loved us so much, He died for us! I encourage you to have your bible handy or if you can't, blueletterbible.org.
Think of how we use to live before we were saved. We were "dating" the world. To be honest, we loved it, and gave a part of our heart to it. This is where that hole was and why we always felt like something was missing. Well then our Prince (Isaiah 9:6), our Knight in shinning armor (Eph. 6:11), with His white horse (Rev. 19:11), our perfect one (Heb. 4:15) came and swept us off our feet. He made our hearts whole again (I Peter 5:10). He filled us with joy and pleasure (Psalm 16:11). He loves us in the ultimate way! (John 3:16 and John 15:13). At that moment we were so on fire, we had no cares or thoughts of the world. We wanted to be with Him and only Him! Well as time marches on, we become comfortable where we are as the fire starts to die down, if we dont add the kindle to the fire (which is spending time with God, reading the bible, going to church, serving, etc.) *Sidenote: this all also applies to our earthly marriages, we have to kindle that flame too* Then the world comes along and we look at it once and say "No, I'm married to my God! I love my God!" Then the world sees that you looked once, then it gets a little closer and waves that piece of your heart you had given to it, saying, "Look, you loved me once too! We had something special! I made you feel good!" We give it a smile and then we start flirting with the world. Now, what happens in a marriage when one starts to flirt with an ex? The other gets jealous, right!? Wouldn't you get jealous if your husband started flirting with their ex-girlfriend (or any other girl)? I know for SURE I would! Not to mention, hurt and betrayed. He is MINE, ALL MINE I TELL YOU!!!!! (well he is God's too, but that's the only other I will allow!) Well how do you think God feels when we flirt with the world!? Hurt, betrayed, and jealous!!! The only difference is if my husband started to flirt with an ex-girlfriend, I may think "what if I did something to drive him away?" Well, God is PERFECT...He has done NOTHING wrong! Even if you think He has wronged you, believe me, it was not Him but the WORLD that has wronged you! Think about this the next time the world tempts and you start flirting with the world! He loves you so much, He wants you all to Himself...and if you chose to devote your life to Him (married Him), you should be all His! He takes His vow and your vow very seriously! You cannot have both!(Matthew 6:24 & Luke 16:13)
Verses about His jealousy:
Exodus 20:5-6: "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."
Exodus 34:14: "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:"
Deut. 4:24: "For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God."
Deut. 5:9-10: *again* "Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments"
Deut 6:15: "(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth" *ouch*
Nahum 1:2: "God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies."
Joel 2:18: "Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people."
Verses about God's love for us:
Romans 5:8: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Galatians 2:20: *I love this one* "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Ephesians 2:4-5: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"
I John 4:10: "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins"
Psalm 86:15: "But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth"
Zephaniah 3:17: "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."
And I love this song with today's thoughts:
