A GUARDED TREASURE
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2, ESV
Theme: Just as a marriage relationship is exclusive by design, so too is our relationship with God.
GUARD YOUR HEART
In our forty-five years of marriage, I can only remember a few times when I experienced jealousy. I believe Mike would say the same thing. This is because we have so zealously guarded our relationship and protected ourselves from inappropriate attachments or infidelity. We don’t ride with members of the opposite sex without a third person in the car. If we must meet or counsel with someone of the other gender, we meet in public, like a restaurant or The Cove’s atrium. We include a third person on text threads, also. This is Biblical! Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (NIV). Other translations tell us to protect it, watch out for our thoughts, or to keep our hearts pure. You must be very intentional in this area.
Once, I abruptly quit a job when I felt an attraction to a coworker. It wasn’t a physical attraction, but he constantly praised me, seeming to appreciate me much more than my husband did. Mike handed off a Bible study to another leader when I pointed out to him that a new believer had developed a crush on him. In both cases, when a bit of jealousy was expressed, it was for good reason. It had not gone far, but we could see a dangerous path ahead and treasured our relationship enough to protect it.
A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP
Just as my marriage is a covenant relationship, meant to bind me to my husband throughout our lives, I am bound to God. He has rescued me and saved me at a great price. His sacrifice of His Son brought me into His family. Just as a parent loves a child, there is a forever bond. It can be broken, as a parent can walk out, or a marriage can be ended. Yet God will never walk out on us. He will not set us aside or divorce us. There will only be distance between us when we walk away from Him. The relationship will only be damaged when we are unfaithful with idols such as success, pleasure, or addictions. Therefore, God is jealous of our affection, our time, and our priorities because, when we are faithful to Him, it is life-giving, safe, and healthy for us! He is not jealous in order to control or shame us. He is protecting our interests, our special relationship with Him, and wanting us to guard our hearts from unnecessary damage. Remaining faithful to Him is ultimately better for us.
Make It Personal: Are there things in your earthly relationships that you need to change? Something that causes you to consider other people or things above your spouse, child, or parent? Are there “idols” in your life that have drawn you away from God? Or has apathy put distance between you and His love for you? Consider these questions. Then ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind any other issues He wants to reveal to you. Be ready to repent and draw close to God.
Pray: Father, I am sorry. I pull away or just plainly ignore You. I prioritize fun or family or any number of seemingly good things, but they pull me away from the One who should be my first love: You. Help me to turn to You only and to have a heart passionate to hear from You and learn from You. Fill me with Your Spirit, for You are a jealous God who desires my all and gives back more than I could have imagined. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
Read: Proverbs 4:20-27
Weekly Memory Verse: “(for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),” Exodus 34:14, ESV