Judah's Adultery

   

     In Jeremiah there is an example given in regards to adultery that is quite sobering.  "...Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery.  Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood." 
     So often we hear the word 'adultery' and attribute the definition of sexual relations between a married person and someone who is not their spouse.  There is more to it than that.  God is very serious when it comes to adultery.  Israel was unfaithful to Him, knowingly giving themselves in worship to foreign, man-made gods.
     As a true Christian, God is our husband and we are his bride.  He wants us to himself, and he is unwilling to share us.  Some may argue this to be selfish on God's part.  Why does He always have to have every little part of our lives?  In response to this I would challenge that person to think of their married life (if they are married). Would you be okay with your husband or wife going out for casual lunch dates with someone of the opposite sex?  Is there no problem with lengthy phone calls to someone other than your spouse when that person is the opposite gender?  Are you going to say it's okay for your spouse to try and satisfy their longings with images of someone other than you?  Would you see nothing wrong with your spouse buying meaningful gifts for another person of the opposite sex on a regular basis 'just to be nice'?  I believe that anyone who would say there is no issue with these things does not value their marriage and probably won't have a marriage that lasts.
     I, for one, do not want to be second rate to my husband.  I adore him and want to be the only one that he adores.  In the same way, God does not want our leftovers.  He is not interested in seeing our halfhearted efforts of what we deem to be 'worship' because we feel like we owe it to Him.  Worship is physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.  If we are giving true worship to our King, then there will be no room for other idols.