The Lord Jesus was very zealous for God’s work. He was never passive on God’s work and purpose. Luke 2:49 (TPT) records His passionate response to His parents who had been looking for Him: “Why would you need to search for me? Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be here in my Father’s house, consumed with him?” To Him it was a necessary thing to be in God’s house and be consumed with Him. His life was about God and His work. He carried the heavenly mandate with great zest. Never be passive and casual with the fulfillment of God’s purpose and His work. Romans 12:11 (TLB) enjoins us, “Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically”. Do what you are supposed to do with such energy, urgency, excellence and attention it deserves. If you are a leader in God’s house or ministry, don’t allow things go low and deteriorate under your watch. Don’t do God’s work with a lazy and a “don’t care” attitude. Take serious interest in the work that God has given you. Give it the deserved fervor and attention. Our anchor scripture is culled from the scene where Jesus overturned tables and chased out people who were trading in the temple. He wouldn’t tolerate such disorder having known God’s purpose for the temple. In being zealous for God, you choose to please God even if it means becoming unpopular.

In Numbers 25:6-15 we find an interesting demonstration of zeal towards God by Phinehas son of Eleazar. At that time one of the children of Israel openly and defiantly brought into the camp a Midianite woman, a thing that was an abomination before the Lord. Upon seeing this, Phinehas followed the Israelite into his tent and with a spear killed both the Israelite man and the Midianite woman.

This response was based on His understanding of what God wants for them. In verses 10-12 the Lord talks to Moses about Phinehas: “Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the priest has turned my anger away from the Israelites by being as zealous among them as I was. So I stopped destroying all Israel as I had intended to do in my zealous anger. Now tell him that I am making my special covenant of peace with him”. God responded to his zealous act and he was blessed for it. There is a blessing in knowledge-founded zeal for the Lord.