Stay Fresh

Not everything that boasts “air tight” is really … air tight!  Without mentioning names, some products just don’t do the job.  Who wants stale crackers, chips, bread or such when effective sealing delivers … crisp and fresh!

 

Times of spiritual refreshment are sweet indeed: quiet moments, sitting on the porch with an open Bible work well for me.  I am reminded, however, that being “born of the Spirit” is a work of God – it’s not the Bible, the quietness, or even obedience!  All these are good, but spiritual freshness comes because of the Holy Spirit.  Oswald Chambers wrote, “Guard jealously your relationship to God.” While Scripture warns us against human jealousy, godly jealousy is healthy!  Christians should have an accurate understanding of divine jealousy: when God says "So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the Covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you ... For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God" (Deuteronomy 4:23-24), He is declaring deep affection for and faithfulness to His [Covenant] people -- those whom He adores, those precious to Him, His treasures.  It’s comforting to me that Mr. Bill wants to protect, provide for and spend time with me (his wife); how much more assuring it is when God says, "For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy ... “ (2 Corinthians 11:2).  The root Hebrew word for "jealous" is "zealous" -- passionate, devoted, enthusiastic, intense, eager; this is how divinely "jealous" God is to have all my affections – my undivided devotion!  Have you ever considered how absolutely amazingly wonderful it is that Almighty God is jealous for you?  When we are passionate for Him in return, spiritual "staleness" just won't do -- we will be disciplined toward spiritual freshness.  Stay fresh!