Knowledgeable Zeal

"Brothers,

my heart's desire and prayer to God

for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God,

but their zeal is not based on knowledge.

Since they did not know the righteousness

that come from God

and sought to establish their own,

they did not submit to God's righteousness.

Christ is the end of the law 

so that there may be righteousness

 for everyone who believes."

Romans 10:1-4

His love for exercise combined with his passion for helping people made it an obvious choice:  He would open a gym.  His enthusiasm was infectious and soon the membership grew, fueling his excitement.  Ideas flowed as he brainstormed with his friends.  Soon, he trusted that business would improve and he would be able to expand.

Unfortunately, this man's zeal was not enough.  He possessed the passion and understanding of his field of interest, but lacked business know-how.  Success in the business world takes more than just enthusiasm and a good idea, it also takes knowledge.

The same could be said for my Christian walk.  I can feel much excitement about what Jesus does for me in redeeming my life, giving me hope for eternity with Him, and offering a greater purpose for my days.  I may want to shout it from the rooftops:  "Jesus loves me. . .and He loves you too!"

My enthusiasm, though, is not enough.  If I don't seek to know God's ways by studying His word and listening to His teachings, then my zeal may be based on fallacy which results in ungodly fruit.

Works

I grew up thinking that if I worked hard enough, good things would come my way.  I learned from my parents, teachers and other trusted adults that I could change the world if only I exerted enough effort.  With this kind of work ethic ingrained in my being, I began my walk with Jesus.  Trying to apply this same philosophy in God's kingdom, however, only put me at odds with Him.

Instead of thinking my service to God makes me right with Him, I must understand that I am saved by grace.  There is nothing I can do to earn God's grace:  It is freely given out of love for me.  Keeping my true identity as a sinner incapable of saving myself helps to guard against my inclination to judge others.

Another fallacy is the belief that if I work hard enough, my efforts will counteract all the times I ignore God's gentle, quiet voice, nudging me away from destructive patterns that conradict His teachings.  My ministries, volunteer commitments or good deeds will never take away my sin: Only the blood of Jesus can accomplish such a feat.  Understanding this truth will guard against my tendency to commit myself to activities out of a sense of guilt instead of as a response to my Father's call.

Other times I get caught up in the idea that life is like a formula; if I do "A" and "B" then I will get "C."  God, however, is sovereign and His plan for my life may or may not follow this pattern.  I cannot begin to understand the mind of God.  As He said through the prophet Isaiah, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. . . As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)  Grasping the mysterious nature of God will help to guard against frustration when things don't go the way I think they ought.

Coupling zeal for the gospel with knowledge of the love and grace God extends to all will result in the works of His mighty hand in my life.

Unrepentance

"I am sorry for disrupting the community movie night and not listening to you.  I know I made it hard on you and I wanted to let you know that it will never happen again."  The boy's apology sounded good.  At first, I was so impressed with his heartfelt confession and pledge to do better.  Unfortunately, I later realized these were mere words meant to impress his mother and I.  Soon, he was back to his old, trouble making behavior.

Recognizing myself as a sinner who has violated God's commands is only part of the package deal of committing my life to Christ.  The other part is in my repentance from my sinful ways.  This doesn't mean I will always think, speak and act perfectly.  What it does mean, however, is that I have turned away from my old ways and made up my mind to follow Jesus instead.

Many times, though, my life remains unchanged.  I continue to live as though I am still my own boss, not paying attention to where Jesus is leading me.  I am too caught up in my present way of living and too comfortable to give up any of those activities, habits and ways of thinking that run counter to God's ways.  Understanding that change is necessary as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ will protect me from looking just like the world.

Another danger is when I hear God's gentle voice convicting me to modify my thought patterns, end the use of offensive words, or stop taking part in ungodly behavior, but I simply ignore Him.  If I really comprehended how my obedience is linked to my love for Jesus, then I would be able to live the holy life to which I am called. (John 14:15, 1 Peter 1:15)

Still other hazards lurk in the belief that my sins are covered by the blood of Jesus so I don't need to make much of a big deal about these transgressions that abound in my life.  Taking the free gift of salvation that is offered through Christ means that I also accept the redemption His blood makes possible.  As I enter into relationship with God, then, His holiness makes my unworthiness all the more evident.  Living with an appreciation of God's view of sin as an affront to His perfect nature means I, too, will see my sinful ways as abhorrent.  Gaining such insight will keep me from turning the invaluable gift of grace into something cheap and easy: It cost Jesus His life!

Coupling zeal for the gospel with knowledge of the importance of repentance leads to humility  and a desire to live in obedience to my Lord.

Lukewarmness

He was everything to everybody: Warm and engaging to those who wanted compassion, tough and hard-as-nails to those who desired results, and funny and entertaining to those who merely wanted to feel good.  Consequently, it was hard to know what this man really believed:  This politician didn't stand for anything.

In many ways, it is easy for me as a follower of Christ to retain the same attitude.  The danger here is that my lukewarmness will be an affront to God. (Revelation 3:16)

One hazard of living on the fence is in my outlook: When it comes to Jesus, I am neither hot nor cold; I can either take Him or leave Him.  I'm glad He saved me from eternal death, but I just don't feel the urge to tell anyone about Him or to live in a way that please Him.  I feel guilty about this fact, but I sometimes think that task belongs to someone better trained to do it or who is more gung-ho than I.  If I would realize that either I am working for Christ or against Him, "apathy" would never again be a word used in the same sentence as my name. (Matthew 12:30)

Another danger is in becoming desensitized to sin.  I am continually surrounded by sinful living.  I begin to think, Sin doesn't really seem like that big of a deal, after all, its my nature, right?  To guard against this numbness toward sin, however, I will need to understand the just nature of God.  In His eyes, just one of my sins earns me the electric chair.  Therefore, I cannot afford to carry a relaxed and easy-going attitude toward sin without offending God.

Another risk is in finding myself to feel content with the knowledge that I will go to heaven when I die.  If I stay in my comfortable place where I am never confronted with the reality of the millions who are lost, I may never care about the unsaved.  To protect against this kind of indifference, I must look beyond my own salvation and expand my vision.

In coupling zeal for the gospel with knowledge that there is no middle of the road when it comes to Jesus, my lukewarmness will turn to fire.

Passion for Christ is not enough to live a fruitful life.  To guard against ungodly fruit, I will need to understand that I can't work my way into God's favor nor can the grace He offers be taken lightly.  I also will need to guard against apathy which naturally occurs when I don't choose a side.  As I base my faith on the Truth, however, I will find a passion that will grow and I will begin to encompass a larger view as my zeal is no longer empty, but rooted in godly knowledge.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can guard against fallacies that lead to empty living.

How do I carry an indifferent attitude toward sin?

In what ways do I think my efforts will counteract my sin?

Zeal for His House

"Zeal for your house consumes me,

and the insults of those who insult you fall on me."

Psalm 69:9

The tiny band of men had never seen their usual calm and gentle leader so angry.  Cattle and sheep scattered as He brandished His whip.  "How dare you treat my Father's house in such a degrading way.  This is no mere market, but the hallowed place of God! Get out and take your money with you!"  he shouted as he flung the coins after their retreating feet.  "Remove your wares from this holy ground!  Have you no respect for God?"  Frightened merchants and entrepreneurs escaped the wrath of the Man who had never before shown such fervor.

As a follower of Jesus, I am called to develop the same kind of passion toward the interests of God.  How am I zealous for the things that are important to God?  In what ways do I uphold the holiness of God and differentiate between the common and the sacred?  When am I willing to take a bashing in order to protect the name of God?

Living my life for God does not only concern learning about Him and how I fit into His kingdom, but its also about what sets off my passions.  As I grow closer to Him and am more closely aligned to His point of view, my passions will change from selfish pursuits to a more godly drive.

Temple

They had grown lax in their duties.  What once was taken seriously, now became almost a joke.  The place that used to be considered special and where temple workers had restricted access out of respect for God was now open to anyone.  The Levites and priests had fallen into negligence of their duties. (Ezekiel 44)

In the same way, I have grown lax in my duties.  My relationship with God that I once had taken seriously, could now be considered trivial.  The body which God had designated as His holy temple and of which I had restricted access from activities, entertainment or treatment that degraded His name, I now freely disgrace.  I have fallen into negligence of my duties.

The Apostle Paul taught that sex is not just a physical act but a union between two spirits.  (1 Corinthians 6:16)  He also reminds me that my body holds the very Spirit of God and thus in considered to be His temple under the new covenant.  (v 19) For this reason, sexual sin is more serious because it is committed against God's holy temple. 

Maybe I think I'm off the hook since I am married and staying faithful to my husband.  I better be careful, however, because Jesus always goes deeper than the surface.  There are many ways in which I am in danger of defiling the temple of the Holy God.  

There are the times when I am watching a movie or television show that is filled with scenes involving passionate interplay between two characters and I do not bat an eye or turn away.  In a way, I am taking part in that sexual activity.

What about when I'm tempted to dress in such a way as to capture the flattery of someone other than my husband?  Maybe I'm not intentionally seeking this attention, but it could be that in the back of my mind I'm hoping someone will notice my figure.  In a way, I am making my body into a lure to gain some notice that will give my confidence a boost.

I must be careful in what books I read, music I listen to and television shows I watch.  All of these areas contain material that tempts me to defile the temple of God, even if it's just with my thoughts.

Paul drove home the lesson of purity by asking, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body." (v 19-20)  Everything I do, think and speak must be filtered through the lens of God's holiness.  Before I partake in any activity, form of entertainment or even way of dressing, I must consider whether or not it honors God.  If not, I have no business involving myself.

As I grow closer in my relationship with God, I will find that my passion becomes a desire to glorify God with my body.

Body of Christ

I have heard it said that church is the most uncomfortable, judgmental place to share one's hurts or struggles: most people would rather go to a bar where they'll be accepted and heard.

I would agree with this assessment.  It is hard to live authentically among other believers because we tend to take the grace extended to us and hoard it for ourselves.  To make matters worse, we then apply the Bible to others instead of turning the scrutiny on ourselves. After all, it's always easier to fix others' problems rather than to focus on where I need to change!

Where is my zeal for God' people?  As my connection to God builds, He begins to replace my selfish point of view with His.  Then I desire to build others up when they are hurting, or bear with those who are caught in a web of sin, or carry the burdens of my brothers and sisters who are hurting.  His Spirit dwelling within me propels me toward a concern for the family of God.

The problem is, there are so many hindrances to the free flow of His compassion.  I could be afraid of how I'll be perceived by others if I welcome an alcoholic into my home for regular Bible study.  There are other times when I forget the grace God freely gave to me and tend to pick and choose who I think deserves forgiveness.  I also could struggle with being able to see past the sin and recognize the hurt underneath.

If I want to develop a passion for the family of God, it will take some humbling in my own life.  Then the compassion that Christ showed through His life and ultimately as He died on the cross, selflessly taking on the sins of all mankind, will start to become my compassion.

As I grow closer in my relationship with God, I will discover a fervent passion for building up the body of Christ.

Persecutors

"What?  That is wrong!  He should never have treated you this way!  Are you going to sue?  You should.  Even if you don't win, it's the principle of the thing.  No one should get away with treating you so disrespectfully."

This could be a conversation about any number of things: workplace sexism, marital cruelty, bullying in school or at work, or even dating relationships.  Abuse and harassment seems commonplace in this day and age.

Jesus said I should expect mistreatment and even discrimination due to my belief in Him.  As His follower, I need to realize that I can't anticipate better treatment than Jesus Himself experienced. (John 15:20)

Its funny then how naturally I am ready to rise up to my own defense when maltreated.  I am quick to retaliate and lash out, making sure no one gets away with anything!  My natural tendency, however, shows a lack of faith in the One True Judge by whom nothing passes.  There is no sin which goes unpunished, either by Jesus for those who accept Him as their Savior, or by the person directly for those who reject the free gift of salvation offered by God through Christ.  Sin's price is death.

As one who is free from paying that price, I am also free to love those who hate me.  I lose nothing by letting a blow to the face go unanswered or a swipe at my ego fall to the wayside.  My reputation only matters as it pertains to God.  I need not fear what man thinks, but can truly live only for God and how He views my actions and thoughts.  

In this way, I am liberated to pray for those who persecute me and let God handle the judgement.  

As I grow closer in my relationship with God, I will discover a new-found passion for loving those who hate me.

As a human being my passions usually run along selfish lines.  But as I become more closely aligned with Christ, I will begin to see a change in what gets me fired up.  Instead of my ire being raised when I'm offended, disrespected or hurt, I'll find a more godly zeal.  I'll desire to treat my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; regard the family of God as those who need encouragement and grace; and think of my enemies as deserving of loving kindness.  It is then that the zeal of God will consume me. 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will let go of the selfish point of view that drives me further from my Savior.

How does the way I think about or treat my enemies betray my heart?

When am I ready to jump to my defense instead of digging deep down to find the hurt that lies beneath?