A Jealous Lover

Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, the Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously? (James 4:5).

The Holy Spirit is a jealous lover. He is jealous over what occupies our thoughts, our time, our ambitions, and our daily lives. His major job is to make Jesus real to the believer.

 

He works constantly to keep us on the path of righteousness, bearing conviction through the Word when we go astray. His goal is our Christ-likeness. We should be thankful for this jealous lover that the Father has placed within us.

  

He perhaps more than us wants us to hear the words well done good and faithful servant when we stand before the Father one day. He works incessantly to keep us out of trouble and close to Jesus and the Father.

   

We should be careful not to grieve Him through neglect of conscience, bearing unforgiveness towards others, or by the wrong use of our words or our anger.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:30-32).

  

The Holy Spirit is chosen by Jesus and the Father to be our constant companion throughout life. Listening to Him will keep us out of trouble and will cause us to fulfill the will of the Father every day. He is very sensitive to the Word. One of His major responsibilities is to open the Word to us, making it real and applicable to daily life. He feels neglected when we don’t spend time with the Father in the Word.

 

I’ve found that one of the best ways to pray for fellow believers that goes astray is to pray for this jealous yearning of the Holy Spirit to rise up within them. I pray that everywhere they are and everywhere they go the Holy Spirit will woo them and make then uncomfortable with wrong living. I’ve seen some wonderful answers to prayer by this method.

 

Honor the jealous lover in your life today. If you do, He will give you’re his joy and peace. This only comes through obedience to the Word and to His incessant pull away from the world and to Jesus and the Father. Remember, you are never alone!