Rightfully Jealous - Exodus 20:4-6 (NIV)

“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your GOD, am a jealous GOD, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

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     I know people who feel like GOD cannot be love if HE is a jealous GOD!  Some have even turned away from HIM, because they heard or read that HE is a jealous GOD.  In fact, the Bible (KJV, NKJV, NIV) refers to “jealous GOD” six time.  However, each reference is made to those who are operating outside the Will of GOD.  GOD does not envy us, but HE is a jealous GOD.  I pray that the next paragraph helps those who still struggle with this.  (This is only an example!  We don't have a dog)

     I have two sons.  My sons know me.  I provide for them . . . I have been there since the day they were born.  I knew their names before they came out of their mother’s womb (she picked the names).  For seventeen years . . . I have been the best father I can be to them.  I don’t think I have to ask either one of them “Who is your dad?”  Whenever they need something or they are in trouble . . . they know that they can call dad and he will be there!  But for some reason . . . after all these years of knowing who I am and what I have done for them . . . they start calling our pet puppy “Dad”  Right in front of me . . . they begin to thank the puppy for keeping them safe and taking care of their every need for the past seventeen years.  They give the puppy hugs and kisses!  They cry when the puppy goes into the backyard, but don’t even turn in my direction when I leave early in the morning to go to work!  

  

   I think it’s clear that I would not envy my sons, but I would be a little jealous that they have turned from the one who has given them everything they have, and has never demanded love back.  I would not envy the puppy either, because I am the one who provide everything it needs too!  

    GOD provides everything for us, yet some of us will praise a golden calf . . . the wind . . . the moon . . . even our new car, and can’t even say “Thank You LORD for saving me!”  Yeah!  I think we have a better understanding of “jealous GOD” 

Obedient Through It All - Philippians 2:8 (NKJV)

And being found in appearance as a man, HE humbled HIMSELF and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

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One of the biggest mistakes we make as Christians is thinking our sacrifice is more important than obedience.  We sacrifice our families, by working a job that keeps us away from ministering to the very ones we say we love!  Sometimes we feel that the best should be left for sacrifice and those around us are starving right before our very eyes!  Saul lost his anointing because of his lack of obedience.  He though sacrifice was more important . . . this is the same mistake we make from time to time.  Even though JESUS was the ultimate sacrifice.  HE sacrificed it all for you and me! BUT . . . HIS sacrifice was not of HIS own will, but was a result of HIS obedience to the FATHER . . . even to a death on the cross!

Deep In Love - 1 John 4:15-17

If anyone acknowledges that JESUS is the Son of GOD, GOD lives in him and he in GOD.  And so we know and rely on the love GOD has for us.  GOD is Love.  Whoever lives in love lives in GOD, and GOD in him.  In this way, love is made complete among us that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like HIM.

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Family,

This morning as I was doing my devotion, I felt this overwhelming Love of the LORD!  I know HE loves me, but when I realize just how deep HIS love goes, it brings me to a deeper relationship with HIM!  Just when you think you can’t Love any deeper . . . GOD brings you to the core of Love!  HE draws us deeper to the center of LOVE! Because GOD’s Love is so deep . . . I find myself falling Deep In LOVE with The Creator . . . more and more!  And with confidence, I know HIS Love is complete until judgment!  Please walk in HIS Love.  Like quick-sand . . . you will find yourself falling deeper and deeper in love with HIM unto the point that you are swallowed up and surrounded by that love!!

Return Of An Unwanted Guest - Luke 11:24-26

“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.  Then it says, “I will return to the house I left.”  When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.  Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there.  And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.”

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     Someone may be thinking, “How did the evil spirits (all 8 of them) get back into the man’s house if he swept it clean and put it in order?”  I’ve heard lots of people say that they opened all the windows and doors to their home, and they swept out all the evil spirits . . . sending them on their way!  Their house was in order!  Yet, two days, two weeks . . . maybe years later, it’s all back again!    

     Once the unwanted guest is gone, you have to invite . . . let me rephrase that . . . you have to accept the invitation of the perfect guest!  The Word of GOD tells us that light and darkness cannot dwell in the same place.  So when you clean out all the dark places in your life, you have to let the light in!  The man only cleaned up to give the evil spirits (all 8 of them) a chance to make a worst mess of his life.  But if he would have let JESUS into his life . . .  when those wicked spirits came back to kick in the door . . . JESUS would have been standing in the doorway, and the evil spirits would have to flee and never come back again!

A Righteous Wallop - Hebrews 12:10-12 (NIV)

Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but GOD disciplines us for our good, that we may share in HIS holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

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     The older folks would keep us in line with a good wallop to the backside or the head . . . depending on how upset they were . . . you could get walloped on the neck, or under your arm pit!  Yeah . . . most of the time . . . I deserved that wallop, but I never liked them!  I don’t care what I had done, I never got use to those wallops!  Now I see how those smack-downs help develop me for a world that will take every chance it can to wallop me!  Even though a righteous wallop hurt, we can learn! 

     Here is something very important I have learned over the years!  When the world wallops you . . . it’s to tear you down and leave you on the ground!  When GOD wallops you . . . you will be lifted up into righteousness and have peace!

Not So Fast - Proverbs 19:2 (NIV)

It  is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.

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In the book of James it tells us to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger!!  Often times we want to defend something or someone that we know very little about.  Full of zeal and passion . . . without the right information (knowledge) is a path in the wrong direction.  It’s like watching the fastest person in the world running a race in the wrong direction . . . at the Olympics .  They are full of zeal, but missing the way!

Remember this! Information is Knowledge (by hearing and seeing), Application is Wisdom (take what you know and apply it), and Understanding is by the grace of GOD (outside of grace; you will never truly understand).

HE is Greater Than Grand 1 John 4:4 (KJV)

Ye are of GOD, little children, and have overcome them:  because greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.

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HE (GOD) is greater than everything!  Too many times people consider “Grand” to be “Great”!  Some people think if they get a “Grand” car, house, etc., they have something great!  Or if they give themselves a “Grand” title, then they have a great position!  He (satan) who is in the world will make everything seem so “Grand” that you can’t help but want it.  We cannot allow ourselves to fall for the ‘’Grand-Standers”.  We must stay focused on HE who is “Greater.”  It is not the car, house, title, etc. that gets us into heaven . . . it is because of HE who is in you!