His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your
house will consume me.” (ESV) John 2:17
In the temple cleansing story, Jesus is the best example for
passion for God or things of God. In Greek, word used for zeal in this context
means jealousy, ardor, fervor, intense devotion or burning heat; consume means
to eat down or devour. Jesus had fervor, an intense devotion and a burning heat-like
emotion towards the things of God. This zeal just consumed him completely which
led him to drive out the people who misused the temple. Zeal stands against the
spirit of compromise, passive obedience (which is a disobedience) or postponing
spiritual things. Zeal for God leads you to take radical action for the things
of God. Zeal of God consumes you. It brings fire in our belly for God. Consuming
zeal for God never keeps you in lukewarm state of spiritual life -neither cold
or hot Christianity. God likes consuming zeal for him in our heart. It is not
emotionalism, rather it is burning intense emotion, determination, fervor,
hunger and desire for God.
What is the level of zeal you have? Are you a lukewarm Christian?
Pray for a holy fire to come upon to burn your heart for
God.