“Stir our hearts, we beseech you, to prepare ourselves to receive your Son. When he comes and knocks, may he find us not sleeping in sin, but awake to righteousness, ceaselessly rejoicing in his love. May our hearts and minds be so purified, that we may be ready to receive his promise of eternal life.”
The Gelasian Sacramentary (6th century)
Good morning, Lord. Sometimes, I’m sad to say, going to church is just one more thing on my to-do list. Forgive me for failing to prioritize this sacred time with You and like-minded believers.
May I hunger and thirst for this fellowship more than I enjoy Christmas cookies and hot chocolate. May I look forward to the worship service as much or more than opening the presents under the tree. You, O Lord, are the reason for the season. So be it, amen.
Psalm 69:9 (NIV)
Zeal for your house consumes me.
We associate this Old Testament verse with the New Testament story of Jesus clearing the profiteers out of the Temple courts (John 2:14-17). Jesus also demonstrated his zeal for God’s house when He went missing at age 12.
Luke 2:46, 49
After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions …
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
This Christmas, show your zeal for God’s house. Be like Jesus. Come and worship. 
The third chapter of Nehemiah lists who did what and where to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. One verse includes a unique descriptor.
Nehemiah 3:20 (NIV)
Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
Baruch worked zealously. We don’t know why Nehemiah used that word. Maybe it was Baruch’s enthusiasm. Maybe it was the quality of his repairs. Maybe he worked longer hours. Maybe he was quick to help others.
I work, yes. Zealously, not really. There’s lots of room for improvement.
Good morning, Lord. Your discipline is a sign of Your love. Forgive me for trying to sneak past discipline, like teenagers trying to slip a misdeed past their parents. Teach me to respect Your Word and its wisdom. Teach me to listen to the Holy Spirit’s nudging. Teach me to be honest with myself and You.
Teach me to do Your will–not reluctantly, but with enthusiasm.
In John’s vision, God had strong words for the church of Laodicea:
Revelation 3:15, 19 (NASB)
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! … Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
No lukewarm faith. No straddling the fence. No compromise with our culture.
Forgive me, Lord, for my half-hearted faith. I want to be zealous for You–no excuses, even (especially!) when it’s uncomfortable. Show me where I’m going wrong. Teach me to welcome Your discipline.
Good morning, Lord. Why is it that I’m more zealous about my to-do list than I am for You? My priorities are out of order, I know. Tune my ears to hear Your Word, tune my heart to sense Your presence, tune my lips to sing Your praise. Be above all, over all and within all I think and do, in Jesus’ name.
The zeal of the Lord has accomplished much for me. What has my zeal accomplished for Him?
Romans 12:11 (NIV)
Never be lacking in zeal,
but keep your spiritual fervor,
serving the Lord.
Lacking in zeal, me?
You bet. I’m too tired, I say. I don’t have time. I don’t want to rock the boat.
Father, forgive my flagging zeal. Fire up my fervor–especially during this Christmas season.
Good morning, Lord. Here I am, with bleary eyes and bedhead hair, dreading the start of the workweek. Here You are, eternal and powerful, zealous with love for Your children. Forgive my reluctance to get out of bed and get going. Fill my heart with hope, fill my mind with Your Word, fill my body with energy to do Your will.
Isaiah’s prophecy tells how God will establish His kingdom. The section we often hear during Advent ends with these words:
Isaiah 11:7 (NIV)
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Zeal, qinah in Hebrew, means ardor or jealousy.
Our God’s “divine jealousy” will establish His kingdom. He wants His people with Him for eternity. He doesn’t want to share us with anyone or anything else.
God is jealous … for me. Imagine that!
