Newtownards RPC Devotional

Zeal

Zeal is a word that is seldom used nowadays. When last did we read in our newspapers or hear on our radios or television sets about a person being zealous? Judging from this, it would appear that it is not a quality which the world values highly. And yet it is a quality that we must all seek to cultivate.

When we say that someone is zealous, what do we mean. The dictionary defines zeal as "earnestness, enthusiasm, intense and eager pursuit or endeavour to attain or accomplish some object." It is apparent, therefore, from this definition that zeal in and of itself is not enough, it must be directed toward the correct objective. History is littered with people who were zealous for wrong causes. For example, Hitler pursued his anti-Semitic policies with great zeal, resulting in the elimination of 6 million Jews. Today there are also many people zealous for wrong causes, whether it is the fanatical desire on the part of Muslims to spread the Islam religion throughout the world or people in this country trying to eliminate all traces of Biblical restraint from the laws of the land.

The Bible, of course, warns us about people being zealous for wrong purposes. For example, we are told in 2 Samuel 21:1&2 how Saul tried to annihilate the Gibeonites in his zeal for Israel, despite the fact the children of Israel had sworn to give them protection (Joshua 9:15-27). Paul, himself, was zealous in persecuting the Christian Church before he came to a knowledge of Christ as his Saviour and Lord (Philippians 3:6). Some so called Jewish Christians were zealous in trying to win the Galatian Christians away from the teaching of Paul to their point of view. (Galatians 4:17).

How then can we know for which things we should be zealous? The Bible gives us the answer. It says in Proverbs 19:2 that "it is not good to have zeal without knowledge". What is this knowledge and where do we get it? The writer of the book of Proverbs tells us that" the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" Proverbs 1:7. God is all knowing and it is He who provides us with the knowledge we require in His infallible Word.

This Word tells us those things for which we should be zealous. These are:

	We should be zealous for God's House. Jesus was zealous for the house of His Father ( John 2:17). You remember how He drove out the livestock dealers and money changers who had turned the temple area into a market place. We, too, must be zealous for God's house. We must ensure that the worship which we bring is true worship- worship which is glorifying to God. We must recognise that we do not come to church to be entertained, but to worship the almighty and holy God.
	We should be zealous for God's Honour. Phinehas, Moses' son, was zealous for God's honour and, because of this, God turned his anger from the Israelites for the wrong that they had done. (Numbers 25:11). Here was a people who had given their worship to a false god, Baal of Peor, rather than the only true God. As a result we are told that God's anger burned against them. God's word warns us that if we put other gods, such as the god of pleasure, or the god of wealth, before God, then He is angry with us too. Remember the answer to the first commandment "Thou shalt have no other gods before me".
	We must be zealous for the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 23:17 states "Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord". God is a holy God and man will one day have to appear before the judgement seat of God. Those who reject him in this life will be cast into everlasting punishment. Surely a consideration which should fill sinful man with fear.
	Serving the Lord. Many of the Psalms stress the importance of declaring God's righteousness to those of the house of Israel as well as to the heathen nations around about. Psalm 22 :22 states "I will declare your name to my brothers" while, in Psalm 96, the Psalmist exhorts people to declare God's glory among the nations. Have we taken this injunction seriously? How faithful have we been in telling others in our town of Newtownards about the mercy of God and what He has done for us through his Son the Lord Jesus Christ? These are important questions which we dare not evade. I wonder could it be said of each one of us as individuals, that we are zealous in serving the Lord?