May 29, 2016: SOAP #2369: Proverbs 10-12; Romans 10

Scripture: Romans (NIV) 10:1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

Observation: Paul can personally testify to misplaced zeal in serving God. He had personally been greatly zealous for the law. He had personally experienced the displeasure of others who in their zeal for the law saw Paul as a threat to the law. Zeal can be good, but zeal can also be misplaced. That inner fervor that burns in support of a cause, can be burning for the wrong cause. It can burn strong, but it can also burn wrong.

Application: A burning zeal can easily cloud my heart from seeing and/or understanding truth. I need to understand things from God’s perspective. The better I understand the Bible the better I will be protected from letting zeal lead me away from truth. The better I understand the Bible the better I will know that for which I should be zealous.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me understand the Bible. Help me walk in truth. Help me apply my emotions according to truth. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!