THE ZEAL OF GOD

"BLESSED IS the one who LISTENS to me, WATCHING daily at my gates, WAITING besides my doors." (Proverbs 8:34)

I am familiar with chasing after church members with phone calls to encourage them to attend worship services and church events and then hearing people come up with all manner of excuses why they feel justified to be absent, but I was moved to tears yesterday as I ministered to over 400 prison inmates who listened attentively and held on to every word with many taking notes and all responding joyfully to the message of hope. 

What was most astonishing was my discovery later on that only 30 of these inmates had been granted official pass to attend the meeting. The rest of them have had to pay with their food ration or cash in order to be granted the privilege - and this was not a one-off occurrence, but a way of life for them. That's how much they love the Lord. That's how much the zeal of the house of the Lord has consumed them (Psalm 69:9).

If anyone could ever have reason to be lukewarm and nonchalant about the things of God these inmates have more than you can ever imagine by virtue of the treatment they endure daily. Yet they tirelessly hunger for God, listening to His word with such refreshing eagerness, watching daily for the church gates to open, and waiting earnestly for the privilege to be allowed to go to church. 

These men may be in prison, they may have been denied even the freedom of spiritual fellowship, but they are "free indeed" (John 8:36). They are truly blessed (Psalm 144:15).

Now, what's your excuse again? How much do you value the privilege of your relationship with Christ? How zealous are you for the Lord? Are you listening, watching, and waiting eagerly? Just a thought.


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