By Pastor RAUL GRANILLO

He that is not jealous is not in love. —St. Augustine

Being called jealous is not typically a compliment. When people are considered to be jealous, they are thought to be in a state of mind that is ugly, selfish, insecure, and even harmful. These are things that are in direct contrast to what we think of when we think of love; so it can be very difficult for us to reconcile jealousy with love. But does that really mean they are in opposition?

What jealousy implies, or reveals about us, is likely the reason we don’t think very highly of it. Consider this, if you are the person someone is jealous for, their jealousy is basically accusing you of being capable of deceit or betrayal. They are saying, “There is the possibility that you may choose to leave me for someone you think is better for you.”

And no one wants to be accused of having a deceitful bone in their body; but I am willing to bet that most every person reading this has either betrayed or been betrayed by another. We are certainly capable of betrayal, even with good intentions.

If you are the person who feels jealousy, then it means that you have made yourself vulnerable to being hurt by another person and you that fear that loss. But pride makes it almost impossible to admit that another person has the ability to absolutely shatter your heart. But again, I would bet that just about every person reading this knows that dreadful feeling.

And so, as a collective, we have somehow decided that jealousy is a bad thing that is contrary to love. After all, jealousy reveals our vulnerability to betrayal and heartbreak, both of which are considered weaknesses; and it makes the presumption that we are all capable of betrayal for self-gratification—not the most romantic notion. The reality is, that when we admit our failings and put aside our pride, we find that jealousy can be a very romantic, and vital, part of a loving relationship.

In Exodus 34:14, God made a covenant with the Hebrew people and told them, “Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (NIV). When we read this, especially out of context, it might seem as if God has some insecurity issues. It even caused me to once raise the question, “How can God both love me and be jealous for me?” But when I considered the reality of it, I realized how amazing it is that God loves me enough to be jealous for me!

See, God does not need me, I need Him! But because His love for me is so real, He genuinely desires what is best for me. God does not want us to pursue other gods because they are all fake. He knows that they will lead us to pain, and misery, and emptiness. God’s love for us is so great that He is willing to make Himself vulnerable to heartbreak if we walk away from Him; and He is willing to receive us back no matter how much we have betrayed Him.

He is jealous for me because He loves me enough to do whatever it takes to bring me back into a holy relationship with Himself—even enough to be humiliated, beaten, and nailed to a cross. This is His love for you; He is jealous for you and He is willing to fight for you. In a world where we give up so quickly on love, it is difficult to comprehend a God who is relentless in His pursuit for you.

Think about it!

To find out more about La Vista Church, or to hear this and other messages, visit our website at www.lavistanaz.org or email me at raul@lavistanaz.org. Follow Pastor Raul on Twitter @RaulGranillo007

Please come join us as we fix our eyes on Jesus. We meet Sundays at 9 a.m. for Sunday school and 10 a.m. for worship. Everyone is welcome!