The Zealous Christian # 3

The Zealous Christian # 3

We should be zealous to support it. By our presence, by our prayers, by our influence, and by our property. Silver and gold are given to us as God's stewards, and we are to use them for His glory. He often gives them, and then seems to leave us to ourselves, saying, "I will just see what you will do with them." And what do many do? Look at their opulent homes, at their lavish furniture, at their plush clothes, at their vain amusements, at their expensive foods, at their... But I forbear!

Only just look on the other hand, at what they give to support the ministry, to assist missions, to circulate the Bible, to distribute tracts, to relieve the poor, to supply the needs of the sick, etc. Can we say of such people, as Paul did of others, "None of us lives to himself?" If these are God's stewards - are they faithful? If ministers are their servants for Christ's sake, are they good masters? If the poor believers are their brethren, are they at all like their elder Brother in their conduct toward them? If there is no hope for sinners but through the Gospel, are they very anxious that souls should be saved?

The cause of God requires all our sympathy, influence, and untiring support - but does it have it? Shall it in future have it? We should zealously identify ourselves with it. To be one with Christ, how glorious! To be one with the cause of Christ, is only a little less glorious! The one is the glory of the sun, the other is the glory of the moon.

God has identified His cause with Himself, and He has identified His people with His cause. They are to sustain it, to increase it, to perfect it. But this requires zeal. It will not be done without zeal. It deserves our warmest zeal, our utmost endeavors. Cause of Jesus! may I be identified with You, may I zealously support You, may I be instrumental in increasing You! To this may every believer add, Amen and Amen!

Brethren, let us be zealous - for satan is! He never tires, he never rests. Most zealously does he contrive his plans, lay his snares, and watch his victims! He goes about seeking whom he may devour.

Let us be zealous, for lost sinners are. See the money they spend, the labor they give, the means they employ in the cause of sin and satan! Their conduct ought to put us to shame!

Let us be zealous, for false teachers are. How active, how diligent, how persevering they appear in propagating their error. They employ the tongue, the pen, the press, and the purse - in the most lavish and unsparing manner. Let their conduct be our model, their success our stimulus, and their zeal our reproof.

Let us be zealous! The zealous Christian is sure of God's blessing, the approbation of his own conscience, the opposition of satan, the frown of every lukewarm professor, and the commendation of all godly people.

Let us warm our hearts at the fire of God's love! Let us quicken our motives by a visit to the Cross! Let us sharpen our weapons by communion with the Spirit! Let us seek the grace, the courage, the strength necessary at the mercy seat - and then let us zealously fall to work. Let the work of God be our delight, the welfare of our fellow-men be our aim, and the glory of the Lord be our highest object! Let us live in earnest. Let us live tp purpose. By the shortness of time, by the solemnities of death, by the realities of eternity, by the danger of lost sinners, by the vigilance of satan, by the poor state of the Church, by the character of the present times, by the command of God, by the example of primitive believers, and by the counsel of the Lord Jesus - let us stir up our hearts, and stir up one another to be zealous!

"It is good," said Paul, "to be zealous, provided the purpose is good." (Gal. 4:18).

Brethren, the time is short, and "it is high time to awake out of sleep!" By the spread of Popery, by the activity of infidelity, by the condition of our cities, by the needs of the Church, by the authority of God, by the blood of the Cross, by the promise of the Spirit, by the glories of Heaven, by the terrors of hell, by the condemnation of the lukewarm and slothful - allow me to beseech you, to "Be zealous!"

Be zealous today - tomorrow you may die! Be zealous in time - and in eternity you will rejoice that you have been so!

~James Smith~

(The End)