Zeal and Momentum



More often than not, I give warnings about the dangers of zeal. Zeal always, always needs to be balanced with wisdom. It seems that younger leaders are filled with zeal and older leaders are filled with wisdom. Of course there are exceptions to both of these. I know some where the characteristics are certainly reversed. I also understand that there is much Biblical admonition to gain wisdom and I totally align myself with this pursuit. HOWEVER, when wisdom has been gained nothing of value will be accomplished without zeal. I was once told that a battleship could be pushed by one man standing on a dock if the ship was already moving and momentum was occurring. Momentum is often activated by zeal. When King David acted as a simple shepherd boy against the giant Goliath, his zeal activated an otherwise stalled military effort of King Saul. Zeal is such a force of influence. Of course true Christian zeal is not an effort or a decision so much as it is a human response to an inner zeal called the "zeal of the Lord". It is the zeal of Jesus within us that activates and at times explodes to get things off dead center.



You may find yourself today in just such a place of neutrality. Things are safe but benign. "Safe" is not a place where creative things happen. There is little possibility for the miraculous in the harbor of "safety". Columbus had to leave safety to experience the greatness of the discovery of a new land.



I am not saying to run out and act like you have zeal. I am talking about getting in touch with God again in the sphere of expectancy. Dare to believe that He wants to use you and/or your group beyond your past or present, as good as it may have been. Be willing to walk through the plains of discomfort in order to discover the heights of accomplishment. Start by "drawing near to God" and see that he will "draw near to you". Then, listen...listen like you haven't in a long time. Expect him to speak to you. When God speaks new fresh things by His Spirit, Zeal always accompanies those fresh revelations. Then be willing to declare what you have heard and watch your group run with zeal just as the armies of Israel were activated by the zeal of David.