I’m sure you’ve heard the commercial that carries the phrase, “what’s in your wallet”? This is a test, answer each question honestly and accurately – for your own benefit, not for anyone else. My question to you today is, “what’s in your heart”? What is the focus or zeal and desire of your heart? Is God first? Or do you try to make room for Him after you’ve completed your daily tasks? Matthew 12:35 tells us that it’s the abundance of our heart that brings forth good things, but that’s only if we have filled our heart with good things! The Bible is a good thing to have in our heart. Again, is the zeal you have in your heart for the world or for God?

ZEAL is a high energy of enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective. Our zeal reveals the sense or level of devotion to a cause, and determines the scheduling of our time. What is the focus of your zeal? Your job, your family, community service, sports, crafts? None of which are wrong. The question is how much zeal do you have for God and His Kingdom? Whatever the abundance in our heart, is what decides how we spend our time.

The Greek word for zeal is “zelos” which carries a sense of devotion; whether to God, or something else. Having zeal is having a diligent devotion. Enthusiasm is an eager interest, an intense emotion compelling action. Enthusiasm is derived from two Greek words, “en” meaning within, and “theos” meaning God. So, in the Bible it often relates to a person having a strong conviction in their heart for God. The level of enthusiasm we have for the things of God reveals the condition of our very soul. If zeal is a devotion, then having zeal is a decision.

Christians should have a zeal to know God and have a desire to live to please Him. The depth of that zeal and desire is a direct result from how much time we spend in the presence of God, time praying, studying and reading the Bible. Our zeal and desire determine our ability to obey Him and to follow His guidance.

Remember, whatever we want to excel in we must spend time in. This is also true in learning the Word of God and how to live and apply it to our lives – we must take the time to grow in the knowledge of God. When we have a zeal for the truth of God’s Word, we will also have a zeal to see others come to Jesus for Salvation. We must understand that light ALWAYS disperses darkness and when the Gospel goes forth the Light of Jesus begins to work in the hearts of the hearers. God’s Word gives light, revelation, understanding, and direction to all who will heed its truth.

Saul, in the New Testament is a prime example of an unbeliever having zeal for the letter of the Law. It was only when he received the revelation of what he was truly doing that his life was turned around from an unbeliever to a believer! It took the revelation of who Jesus was to change the heart of Saul of Tarsus the oppressor of Christians to Paul the preacher of the Gospel and pastor to Christians!  (Acts 9)

Peter is another example, of a heart changed; from a heart full of fear that denied Jesus three times, to a heart full of love and forgiveness who became a faithful preacher of the Gospel of Christ. Just as a side note: the other disciples denied Jesus too when they ran away when Jesus was arrested. On another note: we have all committed this sin of denial of Jesus in some form of fashion in our lives at some point. The secret to the success of both these men was: 1) their conviction of their sin, 2) their repentance of their sin, 3) their receiving forgiveness of their sin, AND 4) their decision to follow Jesus and obey His call on their lives. You and I can take those same steps in our walk with Jesus.

When revelation of the Word of God comes into a heart, the heart and life is changed. If you want change in your life, spend more time in the presence of God, reading the Bible and praying. He will give you the revelation that you need, and courage to live it.