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Save a place in your hear: Part 2
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One has to wonder how a jealous God feels when we put other things before him.
Recreation, for the most part, is a good thing with which God has blessed man. However, if it keeps us from worshipping him or serving him, it must be seen as disloyalty to him.
Yet each week, many “Christians” across the world forsake the assembly of the saints for recreation. If asked whether or not they are faithful Christians, their answer would be yes.
Perhaps the words of Christ fail to ring in their ears: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 
“Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like:  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
“But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great” (Luke 6:46-49).
Some would say, “Well, it is just occasionally God will understand.”
The words of Isaiah come to mind when this excuse is voiced: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9).
Others who profess to be Christ’s followers allow other things to keep them from the assemblies. A faithful Christian plans his life knowing where he will be at the appointed assembly times and will make every effort to see that nothing comes between him and his service to God. Remember we serve a “jealous God.”
What are the thoughts of a jealous God when his children fail to give to him as they ought?
The monetary blessings we have come from God, yet some seem to forget this.
Under the Law of Christ, we are to give as we have purposed and prospered, and with a willing heart. Christians never should give God their leftovers. Thought should go into our giving back to God.
Another aspect of our giving has to do with our time. How much time each week is devoted to the Lord’s work? How much is given beyond the regularly scheduled worship and study times?
A reading of Matthew 25 will help us to see we must be busy as God’s children: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me” (Matt. 25:34-36).
Knowing that God is a jealous God, may we all seek to obey and serve him with all our being. As in Old Testament times, God is not pleased with man allowing things to come between him and his creation. Where is God in your heart?

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