ZEAL WILL CONSUME ME
FROM ZEAL TO GRACE
At twelve years old, I had just experienced a life-changing moment: I was filled with the Holy Spirit with the speaking of unknown tongues. The fire of God was in me, and nothing could extinguish it. I remember feeling an intense passion to live for Jesus, but I quickly realized something there was a major gap between my zeal for God and the way I expressed it.
In those early days, I was what I call a "walking condemnation megaphone." I was so filled with zeal for what I thought was holiness that I became convinced I needed to correct every sin I saw. And if I had to say it out loud, well, that was just part of my "ministry." I was on a mission to be the best Christian, which, in my mind, meant calling out every flaw in the people around me. I thought I was helping them, but what I really did was burn bridges, not build them. Looking back, I see how this “zeal without wisdom” was so incredibly misguided. In my heart, I was passionate about God, but my approach filled with harsh words and judgment was the exact opposite of what Jesus demonstrated. Jesus came to offer radical life change through love, not condemnation (John 3:17). He didn’t point fingers at people in a way that made them feel small, but instead, He showed them the way to true life through grace and humility. Yet, as a 12-year-old, I didn’t quite understand that. The truth is, zeal for God is powerful but it’s all about how it’s expressed. It’s one thing to be on fire for Jesus, but if that fire burns everyone around you, you’ll never lead anyone to the Savior. There is a better way to channel that passion. And I had to learn it the hard way.
Zeal for Prayer
James 5:16 (NIV) – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
I was zealous for prayer, but my prayers often felt like self-righteous proclamations rather than heartfelt conversations with God. I prayed fervently—loudly, even—but the intensity sometimes overshadowed the need for genuine intimacy with God. True prayer is powerful because it is a conversation, a communion with the Father, not a megaphone proclaiming "who’s right and who’s wrong." Prayer should build bridges, not walls. The fervent prayers of a righteous heart don’t condemn others but lift them up to the Father for healing and restoration.
Zeal for Praise and Worship
Hebrews 13:15 (NIV) – “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”
I was so zealous for praise and worship that I wanted to worship with everything in me sometimes in ways that might have seemed over-the-top. I remember times when I would stand, arms raised, not just lost in worship, but almost performing to make sure everyone knew how on fire I was for God. It wasn’t just about connecting with God; it was about showing others how much I loved Him. But God desires worship that is undignified the kind of worship that David demonstrated when he danced before the Lord with all his might (2 Samuel 6:14). This kind of worship is not about drawing attention to ourselves, but about glorifying God with pure hearts, no matter how the world might see us.
Zeal for Purity
Matthew 5:8 (NIV) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
I was zealous for purity, but I misunderstood what it meant to truly live a pure life. I looked at the world with contempt, thinking that everyone needed to be “fixed” in order to be pure. We are called to purity not out of judgment but out of our love for God and His holiness. Purity begins in the heart, not by calling out others, but by living out what we believe with humility and grace. Zeal for purity means loving what God loves and hating what He hates, but in a way that leads others to Him, not pushes them away.
Zeal for the House of the Lord
Psalm 84:10 (NIV) – “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
I had a zeal for the house of the Lord, but my understanding of it was limited. I thought it was all about being present in the building, attending church services, and “doing the work of the Lord” in the physical space. But the house of the Lord is more than just a building—it’s the community of believers, the family of God, and the bride of Christ. A true zeal for the house of the Lord is about being part of a body that loves and serves one another, pointing each other to Christ through kindness, grace, and accountability.
Zeal for People
Matthew 9:36 (NIV) – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
As a young believer, my zeal for people was misplaced. I was so focused on telling others what they were doing wrong that I didn’t stop to consider why they were doing it in the first place. Jesus didn’t condemn people for their sin He had compassion on them. He saw the root of their struggles and approached them with grace and love. True zeal for people means sharing the love of Christ with them in a way that leads to transformation, not condemnation. It’s about building relationships, showing empathy, and meeting people where they are with the truth that can set them free.
I’ve come to realize that zeal without love is like a fire that burns everything in its path. But zeal that is tempered by compassion, humility, and a heart for others is a fire that lights the way.
Zeal: The Right Way
I look back on those early days with a mix of gratitude and humility. Yes, I had a zeal for God, but it was not yet fully shaped by wisdom and grace. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that zeal without love is like a fire that burns everything in its path. But zeal that is tempered by compassion, humility, and a heart for others is a fire that lights the way.
Jesus calls us to live radically, to be filled with passion for His Word and His ways, but He also calls us to share that passion with the world in a way that leads others to Him. It's not about condemnation; it's about love. It’s not about pointing out the flaws in others, but about pointing them to the Savior who can make them whole. So, my friends, let us be zealous—but let that zeal be guided by the love and grace of Jesus. When we do, we will not only burn brightly for Him but light the way for others to follow.
WALK THE ROAD. CHALLENGE THE NORM. LET GOD LEAD.
