Galatians 4:18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. The word zeal refers to fire; to be zealously affected is to be warm, to glow, to burn. It implies an ardour which agitates our whole being, rouses every dormant faculty, touches every spring of sensibility, and calls forth-all our energy in vigorous exertion towards the object to which our efforts are directed. The heart of the true Christian is the altar where this holy flame glows and burns, and to fan this pure flame of love into a brighter blaze was St. Paul's design when he wrote this passage. I. LET US ADDUCE A FEW CONSIDERATIONS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE TRUTH OF THE PROPOSITION IN THE TEXT. 1. An object really and pre-eminently good, deserves and demands aa ardent continuous zeal in its promotion. And is not Christianity such? 2. An object really and pre-eminently good, is not ordinarily to be attained without an ardent persevering zeal How readily is this recognized with respect to worldly affairs. And shall those in pursuit of a soul's salvation fold their hands in idle self-complacency? Are not the angels zealous? Was not our Lord consumed with zeal? What but this brought Him down to earth — from a throne of glory to an ignominious Cross? 3. Zeal, in promotion of an object really and pre-eminently good, is sure, sooner or later, to be crowned with success. Truth is indestructible, cannot die, must prevail. There are no difficulties that cannot be conquered by ardent, persevering zeal; there is no work which it cannot achieve. II. LET US LEARN SOME OF THOSE LESSONS OF PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION WHICH THE MAXIM OF THE TEXT IS WELL CALCULATED TO TEACH. 1. Let us always see to it that the object of our zeal is really good. 2. How can any persons professing religion justify their claim to the Christian character while destitute of zeal? 3. Let us see that our zeal be constant and stable. 4. Those who are thus zealous are not the fools, but the wise men. (R. Newton.) Parallel Verses KJV: But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.WEB: But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you. |
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