A godly man is a zealous man

I am reading Thomas Watsons' The Godly Man's Picture - Drawn with a Scripture Pencil and am giving a short summary / devotional from this weeks reading for my invest group.

 

What is zeal?

Webster's 1828 Dictionary reads, "Passionate ardor [enthusiasm] 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." Watson's definition? "Zeal is a mixed affection [emotion], a compound of love and anger. It carries forth our love to God and anger against sin in the most intense manner."

 

Using Webster and Watson's definitions, we can see zeal as that which places God in His rightful place as the primary pursuit in our lives and is expressed through our love to God and anger against sin.

 

Using a dialectical form of writing, Watson poses the question, "What about moderation?"

 

"Though moderation in things of indifference is commendable, and doubtless it would greatly tend to settling the peace of the church, yet in the main articles of faith, wherein God's glory and our salvation lie at stake, here moderation is nothing but sinful neutrality." In other words being a peacemaker should only extend to the nonessentials, when God's glory or salvation (the gospel) come into the picture, they should be defended zealously.

 

The challenge he leaves us with is, "Christians, what do you reserve your zeal for? Is it for your gold that perishes? Can you bestow your zeal better than upon God?... Was not Jesus Christ zealous for you?...How zealous he was for your redemption, and you have no zeal for him?"

 

Lastly, we need to think about what this really looks like. I know that I have often zealously pursued things other than God. Sports has been an zealous pursuit in the past, as has work. We are called to be zealous for God. The temptation is to think of zeal as that which is exhibited on Sunday morning. True zeal, however, should be displayed in each area of life. What does this look like in each role that God has given us?  What does it mean to me to be a father who is zealous for God? A zealous husband? A zealous church member? A zealous employee?

 

Great Quote on Justification

Question: How art thou righteous before God?
Answer: Only by true faith in Jesus Christ; that is, although my conscience accuse me that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God, and have never kept any of them, and that I am still prone always to all evil, yet God, without merit of mine, of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never committed nor had any sin, and had myself accomplished all the obedience which Christ has fulfilled for me, if only I accept such benefit with a believing heart. -- from the Heidelberg Confession (1563) Question 60.