The Zealous Christian! # 1

The Zealous Christian # 1

"Be zealous!" (Revelation 3:19).

Coldness or lukewarmness in the ways of God, is peculiarly offensive to our Lord and Saviour; for if anyone deserves our whole hearts, if anyone ought to have the whole of our energies - it is Jesus! He was very zealous for us. Zeal covered Him as a garment. His zeal was very early displayed, when He stood up for us in the everlasting covenant; engaging to be a Substitute, Sacrifice, and Shepherd. And from the moment of His engagement, His zeal never abated. Zeal for us characterized His whole life, and sustained Him in the bitter panges of His ignorminious death.

Most zealously did He labor to work out a righteousness which would justify us before His Father, and with equal zeal He presented Himself before divine justice to suffer the due desert of our crimes. He died for our offences, and so made an atonement for them; He arose for our justification, and now, the moment we believe in Him, we are justified from all things and forever. He went into Heaven full of holy zeal, and there He zealously pleads our cause before His Father, and enables us to say, "If when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son - much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."

Being thus zealous for us - for our safety, honor, and true happiness - He wishes to see us zealous for Him. Our indifference grieves His loving heart. Our selfishness wounds Him in a tender part. He expects us to be devoted to Him, consecrated to His service, and glowing with zeal to carry on His cause. Beloved Christian friends, Jesus speaks to you, to me, to each, to all of us - and He says, "Be zealous!"

We should be zealous for the truth of the gospel.

It is God's mind. It is the revelation of the Saviour's love. It is the remedy for the sinner's woes. It is the charter of the Church's privileges. It is deal to God's heart. It is watched over with a jealous eye. It should be prized as inestimably valuable.

We should zealously defend the truth, for it is sure to be assailed by erroneous and ungodly men. Not in a bitter spirit, nor with anger; but in the Spirit of Jesus, with firmness and holy love, we ought to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints."

Never let us give up one particle of truth - but endeavor to maintain it whole and entire. The truth is - the mirror in which God is seen; The map, on which our road is marked out; The law, by which our duty is made plain; let us therefore zealously defend it, nor ever tamely surrender any part of it.

We should zealously adorn it. "That they may adorn the teaching of God our Saviour in everything!" (Titus 2:10). Not by the tinsel of human eloquence, or by trappings borrowed from heathen schools - but by a consistent and holy walk. We ought to be living expositions of the truth. In our conduct - the nature and tendency of the Gospel ought to be seen.

By our meekness and gentleness, by our fidelity and prudence, by our self-denial and benevolence, by our temperance and brotherly kindness, by our patience and fervent love - we ought to adorn the most holy truth of God!

God calls for it. The Gospel is calculated to produce it.

We should be zealous to spread it. It is too good to be kept to ourselves. It was never intended to be confined to the Church. The world is the field in which this seed is to be sown. The whole race of mankind is to be made acquainted with this divine revelation. Every creature, without one solitary exception - is to be told of this good news. Every one who knows it - ought to publish it. The whole Church, should be zealous to spread it over the face of the whole earth. Every believer should be anxious to communicate it to all whom he possibly can.

It is the Word of Life - let us hold it fast.

It is the light of the world - let us place it on the candlestick.

It is the balm of life - let us send it wherever pain is felt, or sorrows are experienced.

If we are zealous to defend the truth -can we know its value?

If we are not zealous to adorn the truth - can we understand its design?

If we are not zealous to spread the truth - can we sympathize with human misery, or desire to spread God's glory?

We should be zealous for the Lord's people. They are precious in His sight. They are His jewels, His special treasure. He loves them more than all the other productions of His power. His His heart has been set upon them from eternity.

~James Smith~

(continued with # 2)