Characteristics of a Zealous Man

A zealous man in religion 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 only sees 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 whether he dies—whether he has health, or whether he has sickness—whether he is rich, or whether he is poor—whether he pleases man, or whether he gives offense—whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish—whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise—whether he get honor, or whether he gets 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 cares not for it-he is content. He feels that, like a lamp, he is made to burn; and if consumed in burning, he has but done the work for which God appointed him.
Such a one will always find a sphere for his zeal. If he cannot preach, work, and give money, he will cry, and sigh, and pray. . . If he cannot fight in the valley with Joshua, he will do the work of Moses, Aaron, and Hur, on the hill (Exodus 17:9-13).
If he is cut off from working himself, he will give the Lord no rest till help is raised up from another quarter, and the work is done. This is what I mean when I speak of ‘zeal’ in religion.

Unknown

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Lars Widerberg

Lars, this says it all.
With no apologies and with no boasting, imperfectly, but with all sincerity of heart and mind, I am this man. Wonder of wonders is that with no intention on my own part did I ever intend to embark on this course. He who reigns in Heaven called and wooed and drew, pursuing relentlessly and in foolish rebellion thought I could out run the Hound of Heaven. Stranger still is when He gained on me and overwhelmed with His love, even then and to my shame He allowed me to escape His grasp because I loved my sin more than Him. O how many times He brought me to a decision: "Choose this day..." And I felt His Presence, a warmth of love coursing through my very being even in my conviction. Being frightened by the cost, knowing that I would have to forsake all for Him, crying out to Him to save me and to leave me be at the same time. And so it was that time after time I turned away and sunk deeper into my vileness, loving the pleasures of this world even as they consumed me and were destroying me, until I had my fill and could resist no more, the great Sheppard of the sheep that had come searching...I will never understand why, the last time I cried out the same lie, of yes and no, of a confused repentance, of not understanding if I had accepted Him or He had accepted me. A great mystery it may always be for it was a slow change being born again, not in a moments decision or an altar call, the night and time I cannot know. But the place is right here outside my door and I just walked out to look up at my old apartment, to the window of the room, to the scene of the crime, my crime and yet His grace...and tears fill my eyes as I pause here at the wonder and the gratitude I have...that He could look on this poor fool...Sweet Jesus I love you so



And I believe this applies to many of us here

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Mike Balog

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Karsten Nordmo

Thank you for helping with the source.
I received it from a friend in the mail this early morning. Had no possibility to trace it.
Lars

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Lars Widerberg

Thanks for sharing this Lars. I found a link to the transcript of the entire sermon preached by J.C. Ryle from which this bit is taken. The sermon is titled Christian Zeal;

[url=http://www.biblebb.com/files/ryle/zeal.htm]Christian Zeal by J.C. Ryle[/url]

In Christ,

Ron

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Ron Halverson