I thought of three words this morning as I considered much on my heart. Compassion. Passionate. Zeal. Decided to take a deeper look into each of these to consider, do they go together truly? Are these things working together in me for a strong purpose? I feel each one so strongly. Are these from God? Or are these just my fleeting, flailing emotions that are out of whack? I want to be in God’s will. I want to have confirmation. I want faith, not doubt. So here it goes:
- Compassion: Sensitivity, empathy, brotherly love, deep concern for the suffering of others.
- Passionate: Strong emotions tied to strong beliefs.
- Zeal: Great energy in pursuit of a great cause or objective (my heart cause- for Spiritual flourishing)
What I see is, each one of these operating alone would bring disaster. It would be off balance and non productive. Emotions alone are a great danger. But with a biblical conviction of strong beliefs, and a zeal for God’s house, and the flourishing of His people as the aim, controlled by the meekness of the Holy Spirit – these three- together – compassion, passionate, zeal – bring a unified working force, all for love, that produces, and attains the goal, of Spiritual flourishing, and honor to the King.
The Lord immediately made me think of this verse:
“for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult You fall on me.” Ps. 69:9
Then… to this…
“When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me” John 2:13-17
These three things: Faith, Hope, Love, but the greatest of these is LOVE.
Love is the driving force of Jesus in John Chapter 2. And always in all things, love,His driving force. Love is the driving force of the Psalmist in Chapter 69:9.
The Psalmist stood for righteousness. Whenever God was dishonored he felt the pain, because he loved God so greatly. His zeal towards God’s house was proclaimed and his defense of God’s honor. Jesus claimed for Himself this attitude as in indicated in John 2:17
Jesus would not tolerate irreverence toward God.
My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and I am called to glorify God in it. I recognize frequently, in my own heart, within this body, this temple where Christ dwells, where sin and irreverence to God needs to be cleansed out. This is a frequent, many times a day need. It is the Kindness of God that draws me to repentance, forgiveness, cleansing, sanctification. Anything in my own heart, the hearts of this home, that are displeasing to God, we need Jesus saving, cleansing work.
As the Proverbs 31 woman I am, there a thousand ways in a day to exercise my own receiving cleansing work of Christ, as well as watch over the ways of my household diligently, in Christ’s strength, and live for righteousness. With compassion, passionate, and with zeal. That means, speaking up, praying fervently, standing firm in belief of God’s standards for righteousness. Serving. And, as Christ surrendered and submitted to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Your will be done”, trusting, that as we are obedient, respecting our husbands, and husbands loving wives as Christ loved the church, training up our children in the way they should go, and accepting our position as servants of God, we can have faith, Jesus Yours is the victory!
We need to understand the heart of God. The heart of Jesus. The reason, time, and purpose for every work He did. He pointed out sin. He spent time in relationship, and was perfect in love.
Compassionate. Passionate. Zealous-for good works.
“waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:13-14
HARMONY: combination of tones, especially when blended into chords pleasing to the ear. A pleasing melody unto the Lord.
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Ps. 19:14
What a wonderful three words. What a wonderful time in God’s Word, to be encouraged in faith.
“But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Josh 24:15