“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Real love costs, challenges, honours and sacrifices. His love is possessive and jealous and consuming.
“Zeal for your house will consume me.””
Were words that followed Jesus driving out those from the temple not involved in worshipping God. and therefore diminishing God’s love.
We are now His house and temple and He still drives out from our hearts all that does not worship His presence and love.
His jealous love sees us find freedom. Jesus manifests His jealous love on the cross.
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus love makes us confront our mindset of fear and anxiety.
Jesus takes us to a place of pain but then gently sits with us there. Connected to us and ready to heal us.
We have to trust Him enough to go with Him and not disconnect.
Love is being in the consuming fire and refining. Love is submitting, sacrifice and obedience. Love is defending, being powerfully aggressive and active for the other.
The world’s definition of love hangs only on what makes me happy.
God chose us as we are sitting in sin and jealously He transforms us on our journey with Him.
Jesus endured dying on a cross, sitting in a tomb to release the power of resurrection.
“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Love is bringing our real selves to Jesus. Our vulnerability and weakness. Not our rights and entitlements.
His jealous love sets us free.
It is only in the storms and wilderness that we can harvest certain fruits.
The place where we feel trapped but we choose to stand strong in His love.
The Israelites reached the Red Sea and felt trapped between the enemy and the barrier but God parted the sea and made the way.
We may have fear but we are delivered. God’s jealous love is so great that He will not give up on us.
The perfect will of Jesus is to take us deeper.
Where knowing our identity we battle for each other our love for the other is equally jealous.
Love is God’s redemptive plan.
The illustration shows God’s loving hand giving the world His only son that we might be saved. The light emanating to push back the darkness.
Three Scriptures that come to mind:
“His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” John 2:17 ESV
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16 ESV
“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 ESV
The song Jealous Grace. Brandon Swanner
Lessisgreater 