Healthy Zeal

October 30

(Psalm 119:139-142 NIV) “My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words. {140} Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. {141} Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts. {142} Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.”

(Romans 10:1-4 NIV) “Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. {2} For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. {3} Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. {4} Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”

(Romans 12:9-12 NIV) “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. {10} Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. {11} Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. {12} Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

In recent years, the word “zeal” has gotten a bad rap, especially when connected with the word “religion”. It has consistently been tied to violence and coercion. But is there a healthy zeal? Is there a zeal that we should desire, rather than despise? God says yes. This zeal pursues a righteousness that makes us more like Jesus. It is a zeal based in knowledge: the knowledge of Christ as both Savior and Lord. This zeal is devoted to loving, not hating. It is life giving, not life threatening. It has no desire to destroy others, but seeks to serve them. It causes us to honor others above ourselves. This kind of zeal does not wear us out, but lifts us to new heights. It does not degrade us -- it upgrades us. It’s healthy, not harmful. We should never be found lacking in this kind of healthy zeal. This is the kind of zealot God desires. This is the zealot God can really use. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day