June 24th

Core Values

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3

Have you ever thought of jealousy as a good thing? It can be...if it's godly jealousy.

I remember when I first moved back to San Diego, dating Bonnie at the time, one of the very first things I was invited to be a part of from a ministry standpoint was being one of the chaplains for the San Diego Padres, who, back in those days, needed a whole lot of prayer and seem to still need a lot of prayer today.

One of the passages I remember studying together in the dugout with those guys was the passage that says God is a jealous God. And they're all looking at me like, Explain that. What does that mean?

And I said, It simply means this, guys, that when you take your position on the field, when you run out there to first base or the pitcher's mound, God wants you to honor Him in all that He has given you the ability to do with your life.

Now, whether you're a banker, lawyer, real estate agent, pastor, or anything else, the Lord is looking for you to be loyal. He is jealous for you to be loyal, jealous for you to be living your life for His glory.

I think a great example of this for us these days comes from the athletic realm, and that's Tim Tebow. I am just so excited to see this guy's clear devotion and loyalty to the Lord. He's singing praise songs as he warms up. He is absolutely not embarrassed in any way, shape, or form to make a bold stand for Jesus Christ in terms of saying, He is what I live my life for.

It's very, very clear who that guy's loyal to. And I think it should be just as clear to all of your friends, co-workers, and neighbors who it is that you're loyal to and who it is I'm loyal to. Now I know some Christians have sort of looked at Tebow and said Man, you need to pipe down. Do you know why they say that? It's because they're embarrassed by their own lack of outspoken loyalty.

The reality is that loyalty is proven when it's inconvenient. God is jealous for you; can He rely on you to be loyal when everyone around you abandons Him?

Prayer Lord God,

Thank You that You are jealous of me, that I matter enough to You that You are jealous for me. Help me to know You as the jealous God so that I have the strength to be loyal to You no matter what!

Amen