IS LOVE JEALOULSY

I remember my first time experience about love shortly after my secondary school education. I never had any relationship during my secondary school years. But, this came unexpected. It happened that there was a lady I admired and we became friends. We both pursued the same passion in the same department in church. We found it easy to get along, do extracurricular activities after church service. Not minding the distance of her house from mine, I’ll go to her place where we chat and spend time together. The relationship was godly and there’s no sinful habit.

In no time, we became family friends as our parents knew each other and our siblings too were friends. Few months down the line, here comes a new member, a brother who joined us in the department and before I’d say Jesus is Lord, he got her attention. She no longer comes to my house as before. I became jealous because I sensed rivalry. Her mom also knew about it. I felt pained and almost heart broken. Should I have fought for love? Why was I jealous when someone else bought her affection? When you’re in love, there’s every tendency to desire protection of whom you’re in love with. Because of your affection, intimacy and emotional connection, you’d never want anyone to overthrow the position you occupy in the heart of who you love. Hence, you’ll do all it takes to secure the love. To secure that emotional oneness you shared, first you become jealous and then sensitive to anyone that could act as a rival. It’s normal to be jealous. But it is when jealousy gets to the extreme that envy, rage and fight would come up all in the name of love..

Why do people gets jealous when they begin to sense rivalry or emotional encroachment? Do you know that God is love? Love is not all about sexual fantasies, immoralities and sex; it has to do with commitment and improving the life of whom you love. Hence, it’s not heresy to say God is a jealous God. Does it sound weird? In Deuteronomy four verse twenty-four, God is a consuming fire and a jealous God. God will never share His glory with anyone. In the Gospels, He requested that man must love Him with all his heart, soul, strength and might (Luke 10:27). He doesn’t want anything or anyone to come in between you and Him. This is why He’s jealous.

When you love your spouse or partner, it’s normal to be jealous when you sense a rivalry. But the jealousy shouldn’t lead to aggression or cause fight between the rival. It’s not love when you’re not jealous but when the jealousy becomes extreme that it leads to a fight, it’s no longer love but rage. Similarly, when jealousy begins to make you feel possessive or monitoring your spouse’s life, then it’s not love but lust. Love is kind and not controlling. A bit of jealousy is needed to make a person feel special. But when you’re not bothered if a rival comes or not, it shows a lackadaisical attitude about love. Or perhaps you don’t treasure whom you love.

Don’t get overly protective or controlling because you don’t want a rival. It’s normal for rivalry to occur even when you’re married. Some men would still desire to have you having seen a wedding band on your finger, you only have to remain faithful to your marital vows or whom you’re engaged to. Love is jealous but going the extreme makes it worse and immature. It’s weird for a lady to be fighting because of rivalry or a man to engage in throwing punches or to do evil against someone who took the affection of whom you love. A person that’s truly in love with you, though would have suitors but would ensure to remain faithful despite the advances. If God is jealous of securing His love relationship with man, then you must jealously secure your love for your spouse or partner but not to the extreme.

© Mayowa Adeniyi 2016

Topic: Ungodly Sorrow [Saturday 23, April 2016]

Memorise: And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. – Matthew 27:5

Read: Matthew 27:3-8 (KJV)

3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

Bible in One Year: 2 Samuel 23-24, Proverbs 14:18-31

MESSAGE:

The type of sorrow that Judas Iscariot experienced is undesirable. I pray that you will not experience such a sorrow in your life in Jesus’ name. We need to know why the sorrow that Peter experienced is seen as godly and why that of Judas Iscariot is perceived as ungodly.

When a man thinks he can outsmart his creator, the results is usually ghastly, and it is only when that person has godly sorrow for his acts that he can be saved. Greed and materialistic tendencies can make a man think he can outsmart God. It is unfortunate that some so-called Christians are not spared for this monster called greed (or the love of material things). The Bible says:

“6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” – 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Judas Iscariot thought he could swindle the Jewish leaders by betraying Jesus, he thought Jesus could not be arrested because he had, before then, witnessed Him escaping from the hands of the Jews. However, he didn’t know that Christ escaped then because His time was not yet up.

“28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,” - Luke 4:28-30

With the background knowledge of what Christ could do, he felt that once he had collected the money and showed them who He is, Christ would disappear and life would continue as usual. To his surprise, Christ surrendered Himself. The type of sorrow he had does not lead to repentance; rather, it leads to despair, frustration, and eventually suicide as seen in today’s memory verse.

Beloved, let us fear the Lord and abstain from all forms of greed and the love of money. These things drown men in destruction and perdition.

Prayer Point: Father, please don’t let the love of money drown me in Jesus’ name

Topic: Eternal Damnation [Saturday 2, April 2016]

Memorise: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. – Mark 16:16

Read: Mark 16:15-18 (KJV)

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 6:1-8:18, Proverbs 3:28-4:9

MESSAGE:

Eternal damnation is the worst thing that can happen to anyone, it is damnation for a lifetime here on earth and in eternity. Our Lord Jesus Christ said:

“4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” - Luke 12:4-5

Jesus Christ in the above passage is taking about eternal damnation for sinners and the ungodly. Many people choose eternal damnation indirectly by escaping the cost that godly living poses to them. In the midst of trials and tribulations, some children of God deny their Lord. Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:25-34 said we should not be anxious for what to eat or drink because our Father in heaven knows we will need them and so will provide them for us. We should not bow to the enticement of the devil. Rather, we should heed the Words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, even if this exposes us to some challenges that are, as a matter of fact, temporary. This is the reason Jesus admonished His disciples saying:

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

To escape eternal damnation, therefore, we must accept the gospel of Jesus Christ wholeheartedly. It is unfortunate that there are many people in the Church today who do not believe the gospel. Some see the gospel as outdated; they believe that Christ came to redeem man from eternal damnation but they refused to keep to the terms and conditions of salvation. According to the text of our reading for today, accepting the gospel entails accepting the Lordship of Jesus Christ over our lives. We cannot do what pleases us anymore; we cannot afford to follow the whims and caprices of the world anymore (1 John 2:15-17). Moreover, we must learn His ways and imbibe His ideals (Matthew 11:28-30). Failure to keep to these principles of Christian living makes our profession of Christianity a mere exercise. Jesus Christ asked His audience:

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” - Luke 6:46

May the Lord give us hearing ears and obedient hearts to do according to His perfect will.

Prayer Point: Father, help me to follow you and walk before you with a perfect heart that I may escape eternal damnation in Jesus name.

Topic: Divine Alternative [Friday 1, April 2016]

Memorise: And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. – 1 Samuel 15:28

Read: Acts 1:15-26 (KJV)

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostlesp. 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 3-5, Proverbs 3:13-27

MESSAGE:

Many people do not know that God has alternatives for all His plans. This is why they behave as if God exists at their mercy. Such people cannot be more wrong in their perception of the Almighty God. The truth is that God cannot be held to ransom on any issue or event. This is why He always provides alternatives that are more often better than the original plan. Our memory verse for today confirms this, as we read about how God saw David as a better alternative to the first King of Israel, Saul. When a child of God becomes swollen-headed and he begins to disobey God in matters that seem very little like tithing and offering, first fruits and would winning, he or she is on the way to being replaced. My prayer for someone using this devotional is that you will not be replaced in the scheme of divine project in Jesus name.

In the Bible reading for today, there is a great revelation of God’s foreknowledge of all things and how this attribute makes Him provide alternatives beforehand. The replacement of Judas Iscariot was predicted by the mouth of King David who was also a prophet in his right. The implication of this revelation is that before Judas Iscariot chose to be a betrayer which in turn disqualified him among the twelve, God had planned an alternative for him! Another lesson we can learn from this as children of God is that whenever a way seems blocked, God has more than a thousand alternative ways to replace the blocked one. The bible says:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28

Beloved, learning from the stories of King Saul and Judas Iscariot, we must be very careful about the way we live our lives, so that what happened to them does not repeat itself in our lives. 1 Corinthians 10:6 says:

“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.”

As I was growing up in my father’s house, I leant to be obedient through the experience of my elder brother with our disciplinarian father. My elder brother was a very strong young man with a good physique, strength and wresting prowess. Only a few young men among his contemporaries could dare challenge him to a fight. However, the day our father disciplined my elder brother and this so called ‘hero’ cried like a baby, I decided never to do anything that would make our father think of punishing me. God has alternatives to any child of His that is not law-abiding. Let us therefore beware of doing things that will make God replace us with someone else.

Prayer Point: Father, help me never to do that which will make You replace me in Your Kingdom.

5 REASONS YOU NEED TO BREAK UP FROM THE RELATIONSHIP

Most relationship between singles, teenagers and even amongst Christians are often characterized by sex and sexual immoralities. I can prove that with facts and figures.
Many are willing to let go of a bad relationship but they don’t know how to do it. Many were wise enough to know that the relationship is bad but they needed strength to take the bull by the horn.

A break up is often good when one party is suffering and the other is benefiting in the relationship. It may seem difficult but it’s often the best step or measure to take when you need to move ahead in life than to waste away. I may not tell you to break up but I’ll advice you on why you need to break up from that relationship.
How to know when you need a break up in that relationship.

1. It doesn’t add value to you
If a relationship doesn’t move you forward in life, it will move you backward or retard your progress.
A break up is needed if no spiritual, financial, mental or academic value is added to your life. If all you do in the relationship is to gossip, gist, engage in futile activities, your worth will be jeopardized.
Whether it’s same sex or opposite sex relationship, if it doesn’t add value to you, it’ll take something valuable from you and before that is done, quit!

2. Premarital sex is involved
Premarital sex is an outright evil that should not be tolerated in a relationship. If that’s all the essence of your relationship, it’s best you quit.

The more you stay in there, the more you become victim of its consequences and your life will be gradually destroyed. Aside that, you’ll waste your productive years and resources on futility.

Premarital sex doesn’t help you, it’ll destroy your destiny, your body and the memory it gives you can’t be erased if you don’t quit.

3. Sexual immoralities is entertained
“Oh, we don’t have sex in our relationship but we kiss and do other stuffs”. There’s a thin line between sexual immoralities and premarital sex especially when it’s done by two people who are emotionally connected.
How can you justify yourself that your relationship is okay when the likes of kissing, caressing or engaging in erotic conversations is the bane of your relationship?
The more you do all these things, the more you advance and gravitate towards having sex. A day would come when kissing and the likes would become unsatisfying and the need to deepen the bond of intimacy will be tolerated. I’ll advice you to quit that relationship if sexual immoralities is the bane of it.

4. It’s making your progress redundant
Examine your life when you first entered into the relationship and now that you’re still there: are you making progress in other spheres of your life or you retrogress?

If no financial, mental, spiritual or academic progress is recorded in your life, then it’s advisable that you quit. There’s no time to waste in life. You cannot afford to waste the morning period of your life on a relationship that would stagnate your progress.

If you don’t make progress now in life, your latter years might be a continuation of struggle. Quit that relationship now having examined it. A relationship ought to be a plus to your life and destiny and not a minus or a halt.

5. It makes you to sin and repent frequently
To Christian brothers and sisters out there in a relationship, there’s no point staying in a relationship where God’s law is often violated. I don’t care if you’d marry each other, once it’s wrong, it can never be right.
Any relationship that makes you repent on Sunday and commit sin from Monday through Friday needs to be examined. You can’t continue in sin in that relationship and expect God’s grace to abound to you.
Before you become an unrepentant sinner or sear your conscience with hot iron of sin, it’s better you quit that relationship now. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a relationship with your choir master, a minister’s child or even the minister, quit now! On no account should you remain in that relationship provided any of those reasons are involved. Break that relationship NOW before it breaks you, destroys your life and renders you useless to your generation.