Zeal

David Eldridge

The church today could use a healthy dose of zeal. Zeal is , “enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance.” (American Heritage Dictionary) We should posses this quality. Paul says we are God’s “…own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). Are you like David who said unto God, “…zeal for Your house has eaten me up” (Psalm 69:9)? Are you consumed by enthusiasm, devotion, and tireless diligence for the things of God? Consider where zeal is needed.

Teaching the lost. Philip the evangelist, “ran” to teach the Ethiopian in the chariot (Acts 8:30). When was the last time you ran to teach someone the truth? Do you have any enthusiasm about teaching the lost? What better news could you share with someone than that their soul, though it is lost, can be saved eternally (cf. Romans 10:13-15)? We must be zealous in our teaching of those who do not know Jesus!

Worshipping God. Are you enthusiastically devoted to worshipping God? Or, are you like those of Malachi’s day? They said in reference to worshipping the God of Heaven and Earth, “Oh, what a weariness!” (Malachi 1:13). When we come into the presence of the Lord to worship Him who has created, loved, and blessed us we should do so with great zeal and enthusiasm.

Obeying God. We also need zeal in our obedience to the commandments of our God. We should be tirelessly devoted to this goal knowing that Jesus is, “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). Passage after passage teaches the necessity and blessings of serving God. Let us ever have zeal to this end!

Could you use some more zeal in your service to God?