Zeal's Motivation
51We don't hear people choosing to use the word zeal when it comes to an ardent interest or desires to pursue something. That word has been replaced by the word passion. We see evidences of zeal in the lives of people around us everyday...even in our own lives. It takes on various forms and the varieties of passion in people's lives is as varied as the number of people. It is good to have zeal but the danger can come if some forms of zeal over-ride a zeal for God.
Jesus' actions of throwing out the merchants and the moneychangers from the Temple (John 2:15-17) was motivated by a righteous passion for His dwelling place. We are the temple/dwelling place of God and His passion is the same as it was then. We are not to bring anything into our lives that turns His dwelling place into something other than what He intended for it to be. That passion that He has for what dwells within us should be our passion as well.
If we had a scales sitting before us (similar to our picture) and one side was for passions that were not necessarily spiritual and the other side was for the various aspects of spiritual zeal, which way would your scales tip? This can be an interesting question which might be appropriate to reflect upon.
Paul (in writing to the Romans) expressed a heart desire for the Israelite's salvation (Romans 10:1). That should be one of the intense desires for each of us that should appear on the scales. What a change there would be in our churches and in this country if we would have that longing and our prayers would be for others to come to Christ. That is God's heart and passion for He would not have sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins if it wasn't. If we lack that, we should be repenting for that lack and ask God to give us that zeal.
Another passion which should appear on all our scales is an eagerness to do good works (Titus 2:14). The good works God has for each of us will vary and take on different forms, but it needs to be present in our lives. He purifies our lives and cleanses us from dead works (Hebrews 9:14) so that we are redeemed for His service. Out of a heart of gratitude for Christ's redemption, that motivation should propel us to good works. "For we are His creation - created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10 HCSB)
As you meditate on HIs Word, look at those scales before you. Do they need balancing? Does something need to be removed or added? Submit it to your Father and allow Him to make the necessary adjustments.
