Zeal for God's House

As I was having my devotions this morning I came across Psalms 69:9 which says,  "for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me."

Do we have a true zeal for God's house? I thought about this word "house". Is David talking about the temple? No, I don't think David is talking about the temple in the sense of a building. I believe David is talking about God and all that God is. The temple is reference point because this was where God's presence dwelt. I think that David was zealous about everything that God thought was important. I know that David was zealous about God's Law and the Word of the Lord.

As I was reflecting on this idea of "house", I felt that God was saying were to be zealous about God's household, His people. The Bible says we are the temple of God, individually and corporately. The Bible says that we are a family. I believe if we are zealous for God, we should be zealous about our spiritual family. The Bible says we can't love God and not His family. If you are a God fanatic, you will be a family fanatic. Even as we love God we are to love His family.

We have many dysfunctional families in the world today. Sadly to say, I believe we have dysfunctions families in Christ's church, the local church. The people in dysfunctional families are wrapped up in themselves and their personal problems. How often is this true in the family of God. Lord Jesus help us!

Also, as I meditated on this verse, I reflected on the word "consume". This is a strong word. The idea of consume is all encompassing or enveloping. When something consumes you, it controls you.

Now let us think of this in the light of the church, God's family, and our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Can you say that your zeal for God translates into zeal for God's people? Along with your desire to please God and serve Him with all your heart, do you have a desire to please your brothers and sisters in the Lord and serve them? As you stand up for God, are you standing up for His family?

As I think on the last part of this verse, "the insults of those who insult you fall on me". What is David saying? He is saying when someone disrespects you, I take it personally as disrespecting me. When someone insult you by what they say or do, it grieves me. When someone slaps you in the face, it is the same as if they slapped me in the face. When they dishonor you, they dishonor me.

I think we should take this same stand for those who are in our spiritual family, our church and our brothers and sisters in the Lord. What effects one part of the family, effects the whole family. As the "Three Musketeers" saying goes, "all for one and one for all". This is very scriptural. When someone or something attacks one person in the family, what is our reaction? Is it sympathy, compassion, sorrow, and a desire to come to their aid? It should be. Or do we kick our brother when he is down? Do we say, they had it coming to them?

Lord, help us not to be so wrapped up in ourselves, wrapped up in what we are doing, or wrapped up in what we want that we don't see the needs of the family of Christ. Let us stop criticizing your church and your servants. Let us in love help one another to become more like Christ and focus on your mission.

FIVE MANIFESTATIONS OF LOVE

In John 13:34, Jesus says, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." God is demanding that we love others like He loves us. He wants to empower us by His Spirit to love as He loves.

Today, we want to look at five ways Jesus demonstrated Agape love.


Quality Time
“And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.” (John 6:3) In the midst of a hectic ministry schedule ministering to thousands, Jesus took time out to be with His disciples. Love is not convenient.

Words of Affirmation
“Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" (John 1:47) These were life changing words for Nathaniel. Love constantly discovers and affirms what is good in others.

Physical Touch
“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray.” (Matthew 19:13) A friend of mine who ministers in prisons, ministered to some inmates on death row. One man was there for brutally killing several children. He was an angry and bitter man. God spoke to my friend to go over and hug this man. When he did the man broke down and wept because he had never been hugged. Love is touchable. Love breaks down barriers.

Acts of Service
Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45) After Jesus’ resurrection He appears to the disciples on the shore of Galilee as they return from fishing. John 21:9 says, “When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread… Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Here is the resurrected Lord, in His glorified body, serving his disciples some grilled fish. Love always serves others.

Acts of Giving
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (I John 3:16-18) Love keeps on giving. It never fails.

Lord, help us to love those around us as you have loved us.