Are we Zealous unto God or are we just Devoted?

Is God happy with our devotion towards Him and His church?  Whether we realize it or not we have devoted our lives to one thing or another.  This devotion could be to our children, jobs, or favorite sports team.  Many in the world if asked if they go to church will say that they are a devout Christian or some other religion but is that enough for God? 

The word Devoted simply put means: an obligation towards a cause or an idea. For an example, I might cut the grass but am I enthused about cutting the grass? No. I’m devoted to cutting the grass because I don’t want it to get long but I lack the excitement in doing so.  The problem comes when that lack of excitement comes to the church and our dedication towards God.  We might go to church but are we excited when we get there?  Some only go for the children or they know that they have to if they want to go to heaven.  But is this enough to please God?

The word Zealous means: Motivated by Zeal and Zeal means: An Enthusiastic Devotion to a cause or idea, or goal.  How many people are enthused when they go to work or school?  But in the morning we get up and go to work, why?  Because we are devoted unto our jobs or school.  The same thing applies when we talk about God and His Church.  We might go to church every Sunday but does that make us zealous or just devout?

                In Acts 2 we can find the difference between those that are devout and those that have a Zeal for God. 

Acts 2:1, And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Acts 2:2, And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:3, And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Acts 2:4, And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:5, And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Notice who received the Holy Ghost.  If being devout is good enough, then why didn’t those devout men receive it?  The reason is because God had some people in the upper room that wasn’t there for the festival but instead they were Enthused in their devotion unto God looking for the promise. Notice what the devout men said about those that had a zeal.

Acts 2:12, And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Acts 2:13, Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

Who are the ones that are in doubt and mocking?  The Devout men. Look at the world today and you can see the same thing going on.  People laugh and mock us for our beliefs but we are just like the early church.  Now remember that these men had travel hundreds of miles just to be at Jerusalem during the time of Pentecost. But was it good enough to receive the Holy Ghost?  No. They were devout and surely they had a zeal but not for the right things. Just like Romans 10:1-2 says:

Romans 10:1, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Romans 10:2, For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Many believe that just going to church regularly is good enough to make heaven, but the sad fact is that there will be many devoted Christians left behind when God comes for his church. 

Does these mean that we can stop being devoted unto the church and just be zealous to God?  No.  Remember to be zealous you first must be devoted.  You can be Devoted and never be Zealous, But you can never be Zealous without being Devoted.

Acts 2:14, But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Acts 2:15, For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

Acts 2:16, But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

Acts 2:17, And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

                Notice who is speaking, Peter the one that said in Matthew 26:33 …. Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.  In other words he was devoting his life unto God but later that night we find that he denied him three times just as Jesus Christ had said.  His devotion wasn’t good enough to stand with God.  But we find Peter in the upper room with the 120 excited about receiving the promise of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 1:6-14)  But once the Holy Ghost falls upon him we find that he isn’t afraid to stand up and preach unto the devout men out of every nation.  

Acts 2:36, Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

                Remember that Peter is preaching to devout men and telling them that they are the ones that crucified the Lord.  If we don’t have a zeal unto God then we will just follow the crowd and do as they do.  Through the Bible any one that had a Zeal for God and His ways was always standing out away from the crowd.  A Good example of this is David.  (1 Samuel 17:1-58)

Acts 2:37, Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Acts 2:38, Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

                If just being devout is good enough then why did they have to repent.  Because their devotion wasn’t right towards God.

Acts 2:41, Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

                These men didn’t just receive His words they gladly received the words. There is a difference between those that go to church and those that gladly go to church.  Which are we?  When you read the rest of the chapter these devout men wasn’t just devout anymore but they were zealous unto God and his church.

Acts 2:47, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

                When we look through the Bible no one every received the Holy Ghost without first being devoted, and then having a Zeal for God.  In Acts 10 we find another man named Cornelius who was devout but wasn’t saved.  But since Cornelius was devout, God sent an angel down to tell him to send for Peter. To prove he had a Zeal Cornelius sends the men to Peter and does what Peter tells him to do.  Simply put Cornelius had a Zeal.  (Acts 10:1-48)  Which are we Devout or Zealous?

Bro. Jon. Leslie

Pastor, Bishop Jarret R. Spence

The Church of Jesus Christ

Portage, IN