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“"Jealousy: For Protection not Harassment"”

Thoughts for Today:

Previously, Paul asked for the indulgence of the Corinthians as he spoke of his jealousy for them. The word "jealousy" can bring up all kinds of negative images and associations in our minds. Yet, Paul was not talking about an earthly form of jealousy, rather a godly one. (Exodus 20:5a: "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.") So what's the difference? God is not jealous OF other gods, He's jealous FOR us. This is a subtle, yet enormous difference.

The Lord's desire is for us to have the best. He wants us to succeed, prosper, and discover the joy and peace of the life He purchase for us. How? By being conformed to the image of His Son. It's the same thing Paul wanted for the Corinthians. Not to control, motivate, or change them for his own selfish benefit. He simply wanted to make certain they were growing properly in the faith. The Corinthians were coming under the influence of people whose teaching threatened to take them off course. Paul was stepping in with a jealousy of the godly variety. Therefore, his purpose was for protection not harassment.

Questions to Ponder:

Is there anyone in your life who seems to be more involved in your personal affairs than you would like? Are they constantly reminding you attend a Bible study, or the need for devotional and prayer time? Sometimes God places people in our lives to display His jealousy for us. How do we know? By its agreement with Scripture. Maybe we should listen.

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About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.