Jealous


1When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.

5But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. – Acts 17:1-5

Jealously. It was the root of the resistance to Paul. It was the basis for action. A jealous passion. Most likely the Jews were jealous because this new thing called Christianity was challenging their traditions, powers, and lifestyle. They were jealous for life just the way it was.

How much of my jealous heart fights against the things of God? I find myself torn between the things I know God is speaking and the things my heart wants to keep. I have my traditions, my power, and my lifestyle. I like them. I am jealous for them. They, however, are not to be the object of my affection.

God, I desire to be jealous for you alone. Jealous with such a passion and fury that all of my traditions, power, and lifestyle belongs to you. My heart wants to place it affection in many other places. In you is the only place that my jealousy finds a home.

[tags]life-journal,jealousy, Acts, God, affection[/tags]

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  1. We say \”if it ain\’t broke, don\’t fix it\” and refuse to admit we\’re in a thousand pieces.

    Lord, please help us to cling to You. To let go of our ungodly desires and replace them with the desires You have for us, that we might start yearning deeply for the things of You. Amen.

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