Shep, the newest member of our family, is a young Shetland sheepdog who openly displays his jealousy when I kiss my wife. He doesn’t snarl or bite, but in the language of barking he seems to be saying, “Hey, Master, you belong to me!” His jealousy gives me a good feeling. After all, don’t we all like someone to care that much about us?

There’s another kind of jealousy— a righteous jealousy—at work in the life of every Christian. It’s not the yearning of a subject for his master, like that of my dog Shep, but of the Master for His subject. Someone has rephrased James 4:5-6 to read, “Do you think that Scripture says without reason that the Holy Spirit, whom God caused to live in us, jealously wants us exclusively to Himself in order to pour out His grace on us generously?”

When we lust, covet, and create strife, we embrace the world’s values (vv.1-4), and this stirs up God’s jealousy. He continually longs to keep us near to Him. He corrects, rebukes, comforts, guides, and urges us to get to know Him better. This pure possessiveness doesn’t stifle or demean us, but uplifts and liberates because it is full of grace and truth. That’s why He wants us all to Himself.

Thank God for His jealous Spirit.