TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
John 2:13-22
John 2:17

"The zeal of thine house
hath eaten me up."

A SANCTIFIED HEART (3)

It is a joy and a good motivation when we have much zeal or enthusiasm to do something we are passionate about. Thus, it is dangerous if human zeal is not controlled and directed by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. The Jews had much zeal to serve God but it is without knowledge of His will and His salvation in His Son Jesus Christ (Rom 10:2)! They persecuted and crucified Jesus, thinking that they were serving God. They did the same to Jesus’ disciples (John 16:1). Paul used to persecute Christ’s church with his human zeal, thinking that he was serving God (Phil 3:6). Many professing Christians are doing the same to God’s true children unawares!

It is unacceptable to worship and serve God without love and zeal for Him like the churches in Ephesus and Laodicea (Rev 2:4; 3:16). Many have much zeal for their business, their hobbies, or for worldly things, but they are lukewarm and indifferent to the Lord and His service! Our human zeal needs to be sanctified and filled with God’s holy zeal to love, worship and serve Him and to serve His children like our Lord Jesus and His true servants. "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up" (John 2:17) and "Epaphras,… a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you…" (Col 4:12-13).

The human temper also needs to be sanctified and controlled by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. Many Christians do not have a good testimony because they cannot control their temper. Their long-suffering is limited like the pressure cooker, and when their anger reaches a certain point, they explode! The Lord Jesus has holy and righteous anger against the Jews due to their unbelief and hypocrisy (Matt 23; Mark 3:5), but "when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" (1 Pet 2: 23). Only the Holy Spirit is able to control our temper and produce His fruit of love, longsuffering and temperance (Gal 5:22-23). What about you?

THOUGHT: My zeal and temper must be sanctified by the Lord.
PRAYER: Lord, please sanctify and control my heart to do Thy will.