"Good Jealousy"

"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy." 2 Corinthians 11:2a

Jealousy is not a good thing. The Bible tells us that it is a work of the flesh and commands us not to allow it in our lives. But I want to submit to you this morning that there is one kind of jealousy that is permitted and that we must have active in our lives. It is being jealous over our time with the Lord.

One of the definitions in the dictionary of jealous is- possessive and watchful in the maintenance or protection (of). When it comes to our time with the Lord, we have to be watchful of the things that would try to come and steal that time from us. We have to be on guard so as to not let any distractions or hindrances keep us from our place where we meet with Him. We must do whatever we have to in order to maintain that intimate time with Him- lay aside some outside activities, set the clock a little earlier, turn the phone off, etc. We must "jealousy" protect our quiet time, our "closet" time, our alone time with the Lord. It is the most important part of our life and we must guard it with all diligence. We can't afford to "sacrifice" it for anything else. Nothing else is as important. Communion, fellowship, relationship, intimacy with the Lord is why we were created.

How jealous are you over your time with the Lord? Do you make sure you don't let anything hinder you from having it? Do you give it up easily without reservation or a fight? Do you sacrifice other things in order to have that quiet time in His presence or is it what you sacrifice? Do you give in to the distractions and give up trying to have that time, or do you persevere until you have it? Examine your life and relationship with the Lord, are you watchfully protecting it, or giving it up?

Have a great day. It is all right to be jealous when it comes to having time alone with the Lord.

For further reading:
Mark 12:30; 1:35
Hebrews 12:1
Luke 10:38-42