Zealous

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” -Romans 12:11

The following quote is from J.C. Ryle, a 19th-century pastor and theologian:

“A zealous man in religion is preeminently a man of one thing.  It is not enough to say he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, wholehearted, fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives, or whether he dies, whether he has health, or whether he has sickness, whether he is rich, or whether he is poor, whether he pleases man, or whether he gives offense, whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish, whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise, whether he gets honor, or whether he gets shame, for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing; and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God’s glory. If he is consumed in the very burning, he cares not for it; he is content. He feels that, like a lamp, he is made to burn; and if consumed in burning, he has but done the work for which God appointed him.”

I would like for you to ponder a question today: What if every believer was this zealous to please God? Think of the impact the Church would make among the lost if our one aim were to accomplish God’s will on this earth. What would happen if as believers our focus shifted from knowing what we don’t know to obeying what we do know?

While this goal may seem out of our control, one thing is within our grasp, and that is our own zeal. So let me rephrase my question: What if you were this zealous to please God? Are there things in your life that are keeping you from doing God’s will? Perhaps there are areas that you need to surrender to Him in faith. What are you waiting for?  There is nothing more satisfying than pleasing God. And while it may not always be easy to do so, His grace is more than enough to carry us through whatever struggles His will might bring our way.

Do you trust Christ enough to fully surrender to Him? That is the beginning of a life that is zealous to please Him.  It is, in fact, the beginning, middle, and end. Daily surrender to God, for God, and through God will bring more peace and satisfaction than anything we might ever have to give up.

My prayer is that we will be as zealous to do God’s will, as we are to know His will.

Dear Lord, Make me zealous to please You, despite the cost. Help me to surrender any part of my life that I've been holding back so I can whole-heartedly live for you and pursue your will for my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.