God's Jealousy and Selfishness led to His wrath


Musing: God's Jealousy and Selfishness led to His wrath. 

Am not one that likes to sort of whitewash God. Almost like 'making him more presentable' for the current culture/brand. You know, acting as if some parts of the Bible do not exist or no longer applies is why there seems (in the eyes of some) to be a dearth in holiness in the Church today.

The topic for this musing is unorthodox, but true. Many times the Bible discusses God's jealousy especially as it concerns His relationship with Israel. This jealousy is not in the terms of that God gets jealous that you bought a brand new Ferrari or that you own your own Jet, no! His jealousy is not like that. He gets jealous when Israel serves other gods. This jealousy is like the feeling a person has when he/she is cheated on by a spouse in a relationship. To buttress, God described Judah in the book of Ezekiel chapter 16 as a harlot for worshipping other gods. This inspired his wrath and they were led into captivity in Babylon. I believe God still gets jealous today! 

What about God's selfishness? Someone asks. You probably won't find a scripture in the Bible outrightly calling God selfish. However, if I were to say to someone "am saving you right now because you are soiling my name" is that love on my part or selfishness on my part!? ... Selah! See a similar statement in the book of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 36:20-23  And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.
But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. 

Even David inspired by the Holy Spirits said: " He Leads me in the paths of righteousness, For His name's sake." if a person is walking in the paths of righteousness, he/she is bearing fruits of righteousness and God's name is glorified. If otherwise, God's name is ridiculed. God have mercy on us all! 

See folks, God doesn't mess about with the reputation of His name. Why bother calling on a name for help when by your fruits you do not revere it? Even our parents will tell us "remember the son of whom you are" to let us be aware that we must act right and not mess up their reputation. Because the efficacy of a name is in the reputation it carries. Anybody that tells us that it is okay to act in any way contrary to glorifying God's name has sold us a lie. Like Bishop Keith Butler once said, "some have eaten stone for bread." Grace and the righteousness of Jesus are the appurtenances of the Kingdom of God relevant for us to know that we can always come at any time for forgiveness when we do wrong. We must then not use them as a desire to continue sinning but rather we must desire to stop forever the vices we have been forgiven for. We must crave healing/brokenness of our Spirits and renewal of our minds. Profaning His name through our fruits (thoughts, words, and actions) as Christians are evidences of an unbroken/sick spirit and an unrenewed mind. 

Someone at the back says, Jesus' sacrifice has satisfied God's wrath over sin. Very correct. But don't forget what our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 5:16-20  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 11:11
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

This is teaching us that there are levels of positions in the Kingdom of God. That you refuse to let your fruits glorify God does not mean you are cast out of the Kingdom, it means you are least in the Kingdom in terms of hierarchy. Yes, you are still much better than a non follower of Jesus, which John the Baptist was, as Matthew 11:11 explains. 

Luke 3:8
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

I the same vein don't say we have Jesus as our righteousness and not bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. 

The proverbial ball is in your court dearly beloved!

I pray the Father continues to lead us all in paths of righteousness, for His name's sake. Amen. 

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