A Jealous God

Don't worship any other god, because I, the Lord, the Jealous One, am a jealous God.  Exodus 34:14

In the midst of playing baseball in the backyard, Jim's six-year-old son's best friend, and next door neighbor, came out of his house, "Dad, can I go play with Brad?" he asked. "But son, we're playing baseball. Don't you want to play with me?" Jim asked, not really wanting to hear the answer he knew was coming. "Nah, I'd rather lay with Brad." his son replied, all too honestly. Jim had a rival for his son's affection, and he was a six-year-old.

As he struggled with that thought, knowing that he'd better get a handle on it because it was only going to escalate, he suddenly was reminded that God felt the same way about him. He jealously desires our affection and attention as well. It breaks his heart when we show more interest in cars, sports, newspapers, television, yard work, hobbies, books, and family activities than we do in reading his word and prayer. It saddens him when we are more committed to serving ourselves and pursuing our own interests then we are in serving him.

If God were to examine your heart today, what rivals for his attention would he find?

-From A Dad's Blessing by Gary Smalley and John Trent; part of The Inspirational Study Bible: New Century Version by Max Lucado

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