"The Family Pyro"
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One of the highlights of fall is the chance to gather around the fireplace. I'm good enough at starting the fire, but usually, the fire eventually dies down under my watch. My wife is the real fire expert, tending it and keeping it going (we jokingly call her the family "pyro," she loves it so much). And really, isn't it the same with our zeal? For many of us, it's easier to ignite a short-lived passion than to sustain the fire within us.
We're Cross Training to develop our fruitfulness, one of twelve marks of the Master we're working on this year. Fruitfulness comes when we're accountable, full of zeal, diligent workers, and good stewards of our blessings. So how do we kindle a lasting fire for the Lord in our hearts?
What You Need to Know
Zeal is the great antidote to laziness, apathy, and our sad tendency to drift and coast. Listen to the way these three commands fit together: "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord" (Rom. 12:11). To be "fervent" is to "to be stirred up emotionally, be enthusiastic/excited/on fire" (Arndt, Danker, Bauer, Gingrich). And a fervent spirit leads to zealous diligence in our service.
Like with all fires, we can either stoke the flame or extinguish it. Paul once encouraged the young evangelist Timothy to "fan into flame the gift of God" he had within him (2 Tim. 1:5-6). The more we stay "hot" for the Lord, the less likely we'll become "lukewarm" or even "cold" (Rev. 3:15-16).
But renewing our zeal isn't enough — we have to pair our zeal with knowledge (Rom. 10:2). Apollos was a gifted, zealous teacher, but he needed to learn "the way of God more accurately" (Acts 18:24-28). Misguided zeal can become out-of-control fanaticism. Pre-conversion Saul described himself as zealous while persecuting Christians (Acts 22:3-5; Gal. 1:14). And pre-conversion "Simon the zealot" belonged to an ultranationalist Jewish patriot group known for their violence against Rome (Luke 6:15). But in Christ, their zeal found a proper focus, and their service to God became fruitful.
What You Need to Do
Continually remind yourself why you love the Lord. Jesus said the Ephesian Christians didn't tolerate evil or false teachers. They even endured persecution patiently, and yet they had "abandoned the love" they had "at first" (Rev. 2:2-4). They needed to "remember" (Rev. 2:5) — or literally, to "keep on remembering." It's not enough to do right things out of habit or even out of duty. We need to "keep on remembering" his grace, the works we did at first, and the reason we came to him in the first place. You'll find renewed zeal when you "remember that at one time you … were … separated from Christ … having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Eph. 2:11-13).
Get curious. When I feel like there's nothing more to learn, the Bible begins to lose its appeal. Stay curious about God's Word, like those Bereans who searched the Scriptures every day (Acts 17:10-11). Plant yourself beside the waters and soak your heart daily in the life-giving stream of truth (Psalm 1:2-3). May we discover and re-discover the passion of those two men who walked with the resurrected Christ as he explained the Bible. "They said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?'" (Luke 24:32).
Get connected. When we pull away and isolate ourselves, our fire quickly extinguishes. But Jesus draws all people to himself (John 12:32). There's not a person you've ever met who Jesus hasn't died for, in his church and throughout the world. We welcome each other as Christ welcomed us and draw closer together in harmony (Rom. 15:1-7). We connect with each other, share our lives with each other, and bear each other's burdens as a family (Eph. 4:32).
Through the Week
- Read (Mon) — John 2:13-17; Psalm 119:137-144; Rom. 12:7-13; 2 Cor. 7:10-16; Rev. 3:15-16
- Reflect (Tue) — Do I talk about the Lord as if he's the most important part of my life?
- Request (Wed) — "Oh God, ignite within me a fervent spirit of service" (cf. Rom. 12:11).
- Respond (Thu) — Think of something you love to do for the Lord, and go do it today.
- Reach Out (Fri) — What has helped you sustain your zeal?
