Fire

 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Deuteronomy 4:24 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/deu.4.24.ESV

We might not immediately think of this description of God as positive. After all, who wants to be consumed by a fire? Who wants to be on the receiving end of jealousy?

Fire is powerful, and dangerous. I'm reminded by CS Lewis's description of the Christological lion Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia. Someone asks if he's safe. The answer is no, but he's good. And that makes all the difference.

Jealousy isn't necessarily a negative thing. Spouses should be jealous of each other, otherwise they betray the fact that they don't really care for one another. If someone is indifferent to their partner's affair, it would seem they don't love them.

Jesus loved us enough to die for us. Having done so, He's jealous of us if we run after other spiritual lovers. He demands and deserves to be number one in our lives.

'God, we recognise You as a consuming fire who burns away all that isn't good in us. We acknowledge Your jealousy over us, and ask that we would be jealous for Your glory. In Jesus' name, amen'

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