Zeal: May 17, 2013

Today's Word for Friday MAY 17, 2013

ZEAL

DEFINITION:

Eagerness; enthusiasm; diligence.

SCRIPTURE:

Then he said, Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord.  II Kings 10:16

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

How many people do you know that you would say show real zeal for what they are doing or what they believe day after day? If you are like us you will respond by saying, "Not too many."

We have often seen new converts express their joy with real zeal after their conversion. This might be in a church giving their testimony or even an entertainer on a television or radio program expressing their new found faith in Christ. But so often, after a few months, their passion for the Lord begins to dwindle.

The Lord expects us as believers to show this kind of exciting zeal for our Lord every day of our life. If we are excited about our faith and looking forward to the soon return of Jesus to take us to heaven, it should be expected that we would show excitement and zeal in our daily walk.

In the verse from II Kings above, we read about Jehu who was anointed King of Israel by the prophet Elisha. After Elisha anointed Jehu to become king he gave him instructions from God that Jehu was to destroy all the household of Ahab, the wicked king of Israel (II Kings 9:7). Jehu was chosen by God to fulfill the prophecy of Elijah (I Kings 21:7) that all of Ahab's descendants would be destroyed because of Ahab's many sins against God and because he killed God's prophets.

Elijah’s prophecy was made 20 years earlier. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel had been zealous in killing God’s prophets. Jehu was appointed by God to be His avenger for the murders of these faithful prophets. It is a reminder to us that those who sin against God will in due time be punished for their sins.

Jehu set out immediately to fulfill his commission. After killing all of Ahab's family in Jezreel he set out for Samaria to kill the rest of Ahab's family. On the way he met Jehonadab who was zealous in following the Lord.

Jehu asked him if he was in agreement with what Jehu had to do. He responded favorably so he was invited to ride in the chariot with Jehu. Jehu said to him, "Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord." When God directs us to do something it is important that we do it with zeal but more importantly to do it with His guidance.

As a result of Jehu doing what God asked of him with zeal, we read in II Kings 10:30 that God said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and done to the house of Ahab all that I had in mind to do, your children to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel." God always honors those that show continuously their zeal for Him. This is an example that we can learn from. When we show our zeal for the Lord and honor Him in all we do, He will honor us.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 118:24:

This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

PRAYER:

Give me and my family a new zeal for You today. Help us to get excited about what You have done for us. May the light of Your salvation shine brightly through our lives drawing others closer to You.