It would seem the Lord is "pounding" this concept into me: therefore how can I not share?
The Lord is a Jealous God; Zealous for His Name. There is no distinction between these two verses: "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." (Deut. 4:24) & "Zeal for your house will consume me." (John 2:17)
Now the Lord's jealousy is righteous. Righteous indignation. How could a perfect God not hate that which is evil? He would no longer be a God full of mercy and steadfast love. How could a just Judge not rule with jealousy for His people? For make no error; there is a vast distinction from the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked.
The theory of Nice Men (although we do become quite more joyful) falls short, in the turning of tables, and the "hot wrath" of His righteous indignation. If all Christ is after in us is niceness(again not the means to an end)...then He probably wouldn't have died a brutal death upon a cross. The cost of discipleship isn't cheap grace (holla at ya boi Dietrich Bonhoeffer) but rather a grace that realizes, this walk is more than "being a good Christian"; it is total abandonment unto the King. Being zealous for His Name. Being "like Christ" in all His totality.
I want to share something from Bishop J.C. Ryle (found in Knowing God by J.I. Packer): for this is what the Lord is after, remember He wants all of us:
"Zeal in religion is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. It is a desire which no man feels by nature-which the Spirit puts in the heart of every believer when he is converted-but which some believers feel so much more strongly than others that they alone deserve to be called 'zealous men'...A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, 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 offence-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 zealous man cares is 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, like a lamp, he is made to burn; and if consumed in burning, he has but done the work for which God appointed him. Such a one will always find a sphere for his zeal. If he cannot preach, work, and give money, he will cry, and sigh, and pray...If he cannot fight in the valley with Joshua, he will do the work of Moses, Aaron, and Hur, on the hill. If he is cut off from working himself, he will give the Lord no rest till help is raised up from another quarter, and the work is done. This is what I mean when I speak of 'zeal' in religion."
Lord give us grace. Costly grace. That dear grace that bled for us. Not for us to sit back, but rather to follow. And come and die. So that we may finally, truly Live. Amen.
Stay warm! My fingers are numb in this March Madness of cold weather! (go VCU)
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