Zeal in religion is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. It is a desire which no human feels by nature, which the Spirit puts into the hen of every believer when he or she is converted, but which some belies feel so much more strongly than others, that they alone deserve to be called zealous Christians. This desire is so strong when it really reigns in believers that it impels them to make any sacrifice, to go through any trouble, to self-deny to any amount, to suffer, to work, to labor, to toil, to spend and be spent, and even to die, if only they can please God and honor Christ.
A zealous man is preeminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thoroughgoing, wholehearted, fervent in spirit. He sees only one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing — and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives or dies, whether he has health or sickness, whether he is rich or poor; whether he pleases man or gives offense; whether he is thought wise or foolish; whether he gets blame or praise; whether he gets honor or shame —for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing, and that one thing is to please God and to advance God's glory. If he is consumed in the very burning, he is not worried; he is content.
Adapted from Our Great Redeemer: 365 Days with J. C. Ryle
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