Scripture: Romans 10:2-4, NIV
“For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:2-4, NIV)
What a huge red flag for us to heed in these verses from Romans! Indeed, zeal is a wonderful attribute to have in doing the Lord’s work. However, we must be sure our zeal is based on the right knowledge of Christ. We do not want to have a zeal that is unproductive. Instead, we need to be fueled by the Spirit of God.
The religious establishment of Jesus’s day had a zeal for God, but it was based on the law, self-effort, works, and self-justification rather than faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
When Jesus was in this world, zeal for his Father’s house consumed his life. When I think of our life, I think of four logs—LIFE, TIME, TALENT, and TREASURE. These “logs” are being consumed by one of two “fires” every day: either the perishable values of this world or the eternal values that are important to almighty God.
Each person chooses what values are pre-eminent in his or her life. It is a shame to see so many lives being consumed by temporary and perishable things. They fail to realize we are merely passing through on our way to the real world of eternity. When we submit to God’s righteousness, though, our zeal can go far in furthering his Kingdom.
Today, ask yourself:
Am I zealous for God? Is my zeal based on the knowledge of faith in Jesus Christ?
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