Daily Devotional for Monday, November 9
Paul’s Jealousy
2 Corinthians 11:1, 2
“Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ,” 2 Corinthians 11:1, 2.
The phrase “just bear with me” is often used to continue to attract someone’s attention to bring about a point. In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul spent some time defending his ministry because he wanted them to know he was preaching the true gospel, and he did not want the Corinthians to get caught up in listening to false teachers or a false gospel. In 2 Corinthians 11:1, he said “Bear with me a little in my folly.” Of course, he was not speaking foolishly, but just the time he had, to give to this subject seemed foolish because he did not want it to appear as if he were boasting, but the circumstances of the situation urged him to do so.
Paul also wanted the church to be faithful. You see this in verse 2. When the word jealousy is used it is often a bad connotation. Jealousy is fearing that someone will take what you already have. The Bible uses the word jealous seventeen times. Fourteen of them are directed toward God being jealous. God wants your worship, service, praise and affection. If you give these to other people or things, you are not putting God first nor do you trust Him.
“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14). Paul was jealous with a godly jealousy. He was not wanting the church to worship him, but he did want the church to serve the true and living God. Paul had done the work of witnessing and mentoring so that they would grow and be faithful to the Lord. He knew what the outcome would be if they turned away from the true doctrines.
Something to Think About
Remember who you are espoused to and stay faithful to the Lord.
Karry Irizarry