SEE MY ZEAL FOR THE LORD

“Then he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord…” – 2 Kings 10:16a

REFERENCE:

2 KINGS 10:15-17

People rarely talk about zeal today, and zealous people are often erroneously considered as ‘misguided’ people. But the Bible shows us that it is a good thing to be zealous for God! Without zeal, our Christianity will be ‘empty form’ and will eventually fade away. Dictionary defines zeal as, ‘An eagerness and enthusiastic interest in the pursuit of something. It is passion and fervency.’ Zeal demonstrates a total sell-out to everything God says with intense excitement.

Jehu here shows us that true zeal is visible, perceptible, and tangible. Zeal that can’t be seen does not exist; it is a demonstrable force. To say, “My religion is in the heart” or “God sees my heart” is unacceptable because faith without works (tangible and visible actions) is dead. “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” True faith is always accompanied and evidenced by action. Zeal is the result of believing that has translated to action.

Just as you can tell zealous people by what they do, you can also spot zeal-less people by their inaction. In the church, they are content with warming the pews, inadvertently resulting in powerlessness and the weakness of their faith. They are often need-driven and not zeal-driven. They follow Jesus only for what they can get, not for what He can achieve through them.

Your zeal gets God committed to you: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” When you are zealous about the things of God, He becomes zealous about your concerns. The bible would often say, “The zeal of the Lord shall perform it,” anytime the impossible is to be executed. This means that God’s zeal is demonstrated in the hearts and through the acts of men. God’s zeal makes the impossible possible, and it is provoked by your own zeal.

How passionate are you about Kingdom business and how desirous are you to see the Kingdom of God expand? It hurts to see Christians unmoved and unbothered by the things of God, sinning, sluggish and uninterested during worship – distracted, unconcerned and apathetic. True zeal cries when God is dishonored, it feels uncomfortable when He is belittled, and it is offended when He is blasphemed. However, it rejoices when God is lifted. Zeal is not a gift of the Holy Spirit; it is a choice you make. So, choose to be zealous for God today!

PHOTO QUOTE:

ADDITIONAL STUDY

Psalms 69:9, James 2:20 & Psalms 84:10

PRAYER POINTS

+ Lord, forgive me for having lived a Christianity of convenience, one that costs me nothing and makes no demands of me.

+ Jude 1:3 – “Contend (struggle) earnestly for the faith that was once delivered to us…” Lord, let my zeal for you begin to burn bright, even as I begin to work out my faith in Jesus’ name.

+ I no longer operate in zeal without knowledge (not according to God’s word and love). As I spend time in prayers, fellowship and in the Word, I begin to ignite zeal with knowledge in my life and dealings.