Zeal

ZEAL, n. Gr., L. Passionate ardor in the pursuit of any thing. In general, zeal is an eagerness of desire to accomplish or obtain some object, and it may be manifested either in favor of any person or thing, or in opposition to it, and in a good or bad cause.

https://overviewbible.com/simon-the-zealot

Today a little history with a lesson for all of us. I have attached an article about Simon the Zealot.  Very interesting read.  If you have been watching “The Chosen,” Simon the Zealot has been portrayed as having been a part of a group whose zeal for the things of God was carried out through violence and or any other method that resulted in God’s law being supreme.  We can admire his zeal, even Jesus when He turned over the money changers in the temple was regarded as having zeal for His house.  Zeal is not a bad thing but it can turn ugly, as in the case of the Zealots mentioned in the article above. 

I am always curious as to why Jesus chose certain men to spread the gospel.  Here we find an overzealous person, prone to violence, but passionate about God and Jesus chose him as one of the apostles.  Simon, obviously, learns to use his zeal in a way that does not include violence while under the tutelage of Jesus.  So what does all this mean for us today? Why am I writing about it?  

When we first become Christians, for most of us, we are empowered with a hunger for the things of God.  And such we dive into the Word, seek preaching, seek understanding and yearn to live out the truth of this new found lifestyle that includes the things of God.  Justified by zeal, we push ahead and learn all we can about the scriptures.  A very noble task.

However, the zeal we have for the things of God can turn into a legalistic outlook where understanding of scripture masquerades itself in the form of legalistic truth we use beat fellow Christians over the head with.  In John 1:17 it tells us,  “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”  Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  Not too much grace where we get run over and not too much truth that we become legalistic, we must seek the balance that Jesus shows in the gospels. 

Simon the Zealot has the zeal for truth but he lacked the grace to be effective.  We often do this also.  We turn new found truth into a weapon and use it against anyone who is doing anything against the truth.  Today, pray and ask that the Holy Spirit will guide your mouth and heart into “all” righteousness which includes both grace and truth.  Truth can be a dagger while grace is the bandage.  The balance of both in our walk of faith is mandatory. 

Today, do an internal audit of your actions.  Are they balanced or are they weighted to one side or the other?  Remember, it is only God who can change the hearts of men, that is not our job.  We are to spread the gospel of Jesus and leave the heart changing up to God.

Prayer: Father as we dive into our understanding of scripture help us to see your grace and truth in it. Help us to spread your gospel with both. In those times of where we use too much of either, help us correct the balance that you showed in gospels. Let zeal for you guide us in our pursuits. In Jesus name, amen.