Are you then making an effort?

Posted : 5 Aug, 2013 02:19 AM

Psalm 119: 139 My zeal has consumed me; because my enemies

have forgotten Your words.



Such was David's high estimation of the testimonies of his

God, that his spirits were consumed with vehement grief in

witnessing their neglect. He could bear that his enemies

should forget him; but his zeal could not endure, that they

should forget the words of his God. Zeal is a passion, whose

real character must be determined by the objects on which it

is employed, and the principle by which it is directed. There is

a true and a false zeal, differing as widely from each other, as

an heavenly flame from the infernal fire. The one is fervent,

unselfish affection, expanding the heart, and delighting to unite with the whole empire of God in the pursuit of a good,

which all may enjoy without envious rivalry. The other is a

selfish, interested principle, contracting the heart, and ready to

sacrifice the good of mankind, and even the glory of God, to

its own individual advantage. Were its power proportioned to

its native tendency, or were it to operate extensively in an

associated body, it would end in detaching its several

members each from their proper center; in disuniting them

from each other; and, as far as its influence could reach,

crumbling the moral system into discordant atoms. Too often

does this baneful principle exemplify itself in the Church-either

in an obstinate opposition to the truth of the gospel, or in a

self-willed contention for its own party. "This wisdom

descends not from above: but it is earthly, sensual, devilish."

How much also of that misguided heat, that spends itself upon

the externals of religion, or would "call fire down from heaven"

in defense of fundamental truths, may be found among us,

exposing its blind devotees to our Master's tender rebuke-

"You know not what manner of spirit you are of!"

Often also do we see a distempered, counterfeit zeal,

disproportioned in its exercise, wasting its strength upon the

subordinate parts of the system, and comparatively feeble in

its maintenance of the vital doctrines of Christ. Thus it

disunites the Church by adherence to points of difference,

instead of compacting the Church together by strengthening

the more important points of agreement. Often again, by the

same process in practical religion, are the "mint, anise, and

cumin," vehemently contended for; "while the weightier

matters of the law" are little regarded.

Widely different from this fervor of selfishness is that genuine

zeal, which marks the true disciple of our Lord. Enlightened by

the word of God, and quickened into operation by the love of

Christ, it both shines and warms at the same moment. It is

indeed the kindled fire of heavenly love, exciting the most heavenly desires and constant efforts for the best interests of

every child of man, so far as its sphere can reach; and

bounded only by a consistent regard to the general welfare of

the whole. Thus earnest and compassionate in its influence,

awakened to a sense of the preciousness of immortal souls,

and the overwhelming importance of eternity, it is never at a

loss to discover an extended sphere for its most vehement

and constraining exercises. While it hates the sins that pass

on every side before its view, it is all gentleness to the sinner;

and would gladly weep tears of blood over those who are deaf

to the voice of persuasion, could such tears avail to turn them

from their iniquity. But, knowing all human unassisted efforts

to be insufficient, it gives to the world its protest against the

abominations, which it is too feeble to prevent; and then

hastens to the secret chamber to pour out its wrestling desires

in the tenderness of our Master's intercession-"Father, forgive

them! for they know not what they do."

Such was the zeal of the ancient Lawgiver, whose spirit,

though, as it regarded his own cause, "meek above all the

men which were upon the face of the earth," "waxed hot" on

witnessing the grievous dishonor done to his God during his

absence on the mount. At the same time (as if most clearly to

distinguish the holy burning from the heat of his own spirit)

how fervently did he plead his people's cause in secret before

his God, as he had manifested his concern for the honor of his

God before the congregation! Surely he could have taken up

this language-My zeal has consumed me; because my

enemies have forgotten Your words. Burning with the same

holy flame, the great Old-Testament Reformer bore his

testimony against the universal prevalence of idolatry; making

use of the arm of temporal power, and of the yet greater

power of secret complaint, to stem the torrent of iniquity. The

same impulse in later times marked the conduct of the

Apostles: when, "rending their clothes, and running in among"

a frantic multitude of idolaters, by all the power of their entreaties "they were scarcely able to restrain the people, that

they had not done sacrifice unto them." On another occasion

the great Apostle, forgetting "the goodly stones and buildings"

that met his eye at Athens-found "his spirit stirred in him,

when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry." In another city

"was he pressed in spirit" by the intensity of his interest for the

souls of his fellow-sinners and his Master's work.

Yet this is not a heat that wastes itself without a proportionate

object. The truth of God is the grand object. Not one atom of

its dust shall be lost. For its fundamentals all consequences

must be hazarded-yes, life itself-if need be-sacrificed. Nor

does this fervor expend itself in strong impulses that wear out

without fruit. It is a constant affection in "a good thing." Nor is

it an undisciplined burst of warm feeling, but a sober

controlled exercise of Christian judgment. The Apostle-with

his inexpressible abhorrence of idolatry-yet remained in the

midst of it for two, perhaps three, years, faithfully employed in

his Master's work; yet waiting for the fittest time of open

protest against Diana's worship. So admirably was "the spirit

of power and love" disciplined by "the spirit of a sound mind."

But, "compassed about, as we are, with so great a cloud of

witnesses," let us yet turn aside to look unto One greater than

them all-to One, whose example in every temper of Christian

conduct affords equal direction and encouragement. Jesus

could testify to His Father-"The zeal of Your house has eaten

Me up." He was ever ready to put aside even lawful

engagements and obligations, when they interfered with this

paramount demand. Yet was His zeal tempered with a careful

restraint from needless offence. Rather would He work a

miracle, and retreat from publicity, than seem to give occasion

to those that might desire it. And if we bear the stamp of His

disciples, without rushing into offence in the waywardness of

our own spirits, and while rejoicing to have our own "names

cast out as evil," we shall at the same time be tender of any reflection on the name of our God, as on our dearest friend

and benefactor. We shall feel any slight of His honor as

sensitively as a wound to our own reputation; nor shall we

hesitate to thrust ourselves between, to receive on ourselves

any strokes that may be aimed at His cause. This combined

spirit of self-denial and self-devotedness kindles the flame,

which "many waters cannot quench, neither can the floods

drown." 'I could bear'-said holy Brainerd-'any desertion or

spiritual conflict, if I could but have my heart burning all the

while within me with love to God, and desire for His glory.' It is

indeed a delightful exercise to "spend and be spent" in the

service of Him, who for our sakes was even consumed by the

fire of His own zeal.

However, the surest evidence of Christian zeal is, when it

begins at home, in a narrow scrutiny, and "vehement revenge"

against the sins of our own hearts. Do we mourn over our own

forgetfulness of God's words? Are we zealous to redeem the

loss to our Savior's cause from this sinful neglect? And do we

plainly show, that our opposition to sin in the ungodly is the

opposition of love? And is this love manifested to the persons

and souls of those, whose doctrines and practice we are

constrained to resist, and in a careful restraint from the use of

unhallowed "carnal weapons" in this spiritual "warfare?"

Perhaps the weak, timid child of God may be saying, 'I can do

nothing for my God. I allow His words to be forgotten, with

little or no success in my efforts to prevent it.' Are you then

making an effort? Every work done in faith bears fruit to God

and to His church. You may not see it. But let your secret

chamber witness to your zeal: and the Lord "will not be

unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love." He will

even strengthen you for your dreaded conflict in the open

confession of His cause-"For He has chosen the weak things

of the world to confound the things that are mighty." Or,

should peculiar trials restrain the boldness of your profession,you may be found in the end to have made as effectual a

resistance to the progress of sin by your intercession before

God, as those who have shown a more open front in the face

of the world.



by

Charles Bridges

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