Is the same passion,the same zeal that marked you when you were saved still expressed in who you are and what you do? If the passion isn’t still marking your life…what is? And what happened to that passion??? Do you miss it? (Not a silly question.) Passion is really a necessary ‘ingredient’ in how we live in our days. Without the passion, everything is a bit… drudgy. Passion provides the foundation to meet the day.
How do you define ‘zeal’? I tend to describe it as the expressive part of passion. Webster says: “…eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something …” However, the following definition expands the understanding:
“PASSION, FERVOR, ARDOR, ENTHUSIASM, ZEAL mean intense emotion compelling action.
PASSION applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable. (was a slave to his passions,) …
ZEAL implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause. (preaches with fanatical zeal) “
Granted there is a strong relationship between these two words, however there are also subtle differences.
Scripture indicates over 40 verses related to zeal:
“For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10:2-4)
“For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance (for) clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.” (Isaiah 59:17)
“For zeal for your house has consumed me…” (Psalm 69:9)
“…who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14)
From these scriptures we can begin to understand more about zeal and the power and strength of zeal. But how do we display it? How would others (and ourselves) recognize the expression of zeal?
To be honest, I think we instinctively know our own level of zeal. Because I also believe that zeal can grow. It’s when we are ‘in our element’ that we sense the expansion of zeal and that gives us a stronger basis to express. But I also believe that it is passion that begins this journey. Passion underscores our zeal.
