FAITH CAPSULE: To be zealous for God requires a non-compromising stand
John 2
Zeal: Is defined, fervent or enthusiastic devotion, often extreme or fanatical in nature, as to a religious movement, political cause. As a Christian zeal must be grounded on right principles)
Going by definition of the word Zeal, what does it mean to have zeal for God?
In Jesus, we see what it means to be zealous for the course of the kingdom’s business. The bible recorded, “Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” (John 2:13-17)
The action of Jesus is a demonstration of Zeal for God. In Jesus’s action we see a principle of fighting a good course for God’s glory.
The people in the temple engaged evil act.
Psalmist stated, “I have hated the assembly of evildoers…” (Psalm 26:5); You who love the Lord, hate evil! …” (Psalm 97:10) As a believer, are you conscious of need to hate evil? Proverbs 8:13 stated that, the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. If seeing evil is not generating your hatred for evil, there is a need for self-examination.
The word of God must be consciously activated in us so we become elevated before God. Are you activating word of God which sounds in your direction or you are only memorizing His word? The word of God you memorize will not answer for you. It is the word you meditate day and night that will answer for you. Joshua 1:8 stated, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” When there is no meditation, there be no word in your mouth and when challenges come you become stranded because word has departed your mouth.
Evidently, until the zeal of God eats up a believer, then the possibility of having a clean temple is almost impossible. When there is zeal for God, He will move into our life; He will have His place in us. To be zealous for God requires a non-compromising stand which calls for us to disallow self and have Christ fill us.
Prayer for today: Ask God that the Zeal for His glory and the uplifting of His name shall become your portion.