I was sitting at my computer, preparing a sermon for the coming Sunday, with Spotify playing in the background. Then this song came on:

You invented all of time and space

Called the morning and midnight into place

Made the mountains and tamed the wildest seas

And still You set Your holy eyes on me

I will always live in wonder of

The fact that I awaken jealous love

Eternity will almost be enough

—“Tremble” by Lauren Daigle, Paul Duncan, and Paul Mabury

Suddenly, something supernatural happened. The words flew off the sound system and landed deep in my spirit. The line that touched me was, “I will always live in wonder of the fact that I awaken jealous love.” In that moment, revelation exploded in my heart. I began to weep hot, uncontrollable tears as the truth sank in: There is something about me that moves the heart of God with passionate, jealous love!

And the same is true for you.

Sit with that for a moment. Believe it. Receive it into your soul and let it change you.

Once I composed myself, I started meditating on this awakening. How do I know this wasn’t just a fleeting emotional high? Because the Cross of Jesus Christ tells me it’s true. God desires reconciliation with us so deeply that He was willing to give His absolute best—His own precious Son. He knows everything about you: the good, the bad, and the shameful. Still, He longs for heart-level relationship with you. He proved it by paying the highest price—the shed blood of Jesus (Romans 5:8).

Don’t just receive this as dry theology. Let the emotions of God’s burning passion touch you.

Jealousy in the Bible

It’s interesting: when jealousy is applied to humans in Scripture, it’s always negative. It leads to anger, rage, violence, and broken relationships. But when jealousy is applied to God, it’s presented as something good and holy. In fact, one of God’s names is “Jealous” (Exodus 34:14).

The difference is this: human jealousy is selfish and destructive. God’s jealousy is self-sacrificial. There is no clearer demonstration of His jealous love than the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Jealousy vs. Envy

In today’s culture, we often use “envy” and “jealousy” interchangeably, but there’s an important distinction. It has to do with possession. Envy is wanting something that belongs to someone else. Jealousy is the desire to protect what is rightfully yours. 

If you bought yourself a brand-new Mercedes GLE 450, I might become envious. But if another woman made a move on me, my wife would have every right to become jealous—because I belong to her in covenant love.

In an even deeper and more profound way, we belong to God. He created us. Then Jesus purchased us back with His own blood. We are His twice over. The Cross proves that God is jealous for us and will not share us with anyone or anything else.

Start Now

As the song says, it will take all of eternity to begin to fathom the depths of God’s unrelenting, unlimited, jealous love for you and me. So why not start today?

Let this love wash over your heart and mind. Let it cleanse every lie you’ve believed about yourself—that you’re not enough, that you’re too broken, or that God couldn’t possibly want you. He loves you with an everlasting love, just as you are, and He refuses to share you with anyone or anything else.

Drink in His perfect love. Let all fear go. Ask Him to show you how and why you find it difficult to receive His affection for you. He will help you see the lies so that you can replace them with the Truth. It’ll be a glorious journey for the rest of your life of receiving and living in His unconditional love.

One final thought: there is a world of people who have no idea just how stunningly beautiful God is; how incredible his love is! You can be that person to help them discover Him. But first, you will need to taste and see for yourself, because you can’t give away what you don’t first possess.

I will always live in wonder of the fact that I awaken Your jealous love. Eternity will almost be enough.