ZEAL FOR GOD!

Titus 2:12-14 TLB

and along with this gift comes the realization that God wants us to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures and to live good, God-fearing lives day after day, [13] looking forward to that wonderful time we've been expecting, when his glory shall be seen-the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. [14] He died under God's judgment against our sins so that he could rescue us from constant falling into sin and make us his very own people, with cleansed hearts and real enthusiasm for doing kind things for others.

 

Zealousness is being committed and devoted to someone or something. It means being warmly engaged or ardent in the pursuit of a matter. It is the passion or fervency we exhibit over an issue or relationship. We are instructed to pursue God fervently, wisely, and righteously with total devotion.

Our faith walk must be all about promoting good works that are Kingdom agenda-based to glorify the Father. As a character of good works, we should be zealously engaged for God in service above all else, according to Psalm 69:9. Even when men reproach us for our zeal, we should gladly bear it.

How passionate are you about the work of God, the matters of the Kingdom, and your spiritual race? How far would you go to see Heaven’s mandate carried out on earth? And how actively will you engage in them?

Many of us pursue what we want with more diligence than we pursue spiritual things. Paul points out in Romans 10:2 that passion was not lacking in the Israelites; rather, they had a zeal for God, but their zeal was more for religious knowledge. Attending church and trying in their strength to be good people did not mean their zeal was for God. It is both a privilege and a responsibility to belong to the Lord. We can't have an intimate relationship with the Lord without His holiness, according to Leviticus 20:26. Intimacy with God is our highest calling and should differentiate us from unbelievers and other religious groups.

We have all misplaced our zeal for the Lord while pursuing worldly and carnal pleasures. Haman was so consumed with his gain, pleasure, and status that he misplaced the zeal for the king that got him into office in the book of Esther.

Our intense and eager passion for God should push us to forsake “other” things that may take the focus off the Lord. Whatever will cause us to lose the passion or first love, as described in Revelation 2:4, is not spiritually acceptable. We may be serving in one department in church with such zeal that we are noticed and complimented, but often this fervency is all about ourselves and earthly pursuits.

Paul had such passionate love for Judaism that he persecuted the church with the idea that he was looking out for “God,” as he says in Philippians 3:6-7. But his zeal was very personal as well, wanting to preserve what was to him his authentic Jewish background. If anyone could be said to be blameless in following the law, it was Paul. Everything he counted as gain through his passion, he finally saw as misplaced zeal.

Zeal can be a good or a bad thing, depending on how we express it and the motives behind it, like Paul. Where is the passion in prayer, studying the word, and evangelism? Most Christians now want someone else to study and come teach them; they leave the responsibility of their spiritual growth to third parties.

How about fellowship? Are you zealous for the house of God to attend fellowship however often is required? We should be like David in Psalm 69:9, declaring and allowing the zeal of God’s house to consume us. Let’s be zealous for good and God’s work.

PRAYER: Lord, as David said, let the zeal for Your house, kingdom, purpose, and will consume me fully in Jesus’ name. Amen.

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/womenoflight/episodes/ZEAL-FOR-GOD-e31ip4t

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WE APPRECIATE YOUR GENEROUSITY AND SUPPORT.

SHALOM

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