It all started with a burning bush.
God called to Moses, “Moses, Moses”.
And he said, “Here I am.”
The God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob who had remained on “mute” for the last 400 years, finally spoke to a stuttering shepherd and called him to lead His people out of Egypt unto the promised land.
Fire, really? Why not, God is holy, He is set apart.
What better symbol of sanctity and holiness could there be than fire? And yet, even in that first encounter with His people, the fire represented more than just holiness- it symbolized the zealous love of God to pursue His chosen ones, even after they had forgotten Him.
His Zealous Love Pursues Us
Jesus, like Abba, is slow to anger. Throughout the scriptures we see Him tested and tried by Pharisees and Sadducees who keep challenging Him to prove His mettle.
And yet, not once does He lose His cool. Except for that time when He drove out moneychangers from the temple premises.
He “cleansed” the temple, charged with holy wrath against those who were extorting and cheating worshippers out of money. (John 2:13-16)
Why so serious, Sany? Because the house of God, a place of love was turned into a trade house.
The temple was to be a place where worshippers could pursue a relationship with God and instead they were being exploited and filled with a wrong idea of who God was- an angry, sacrifice-seeking entity, instead of a loving Father!
The zeal for Abba’s house that consumed Jesus (John 2:17), was a zeal to reveal His heart of love to a lost and dying generation.
With the Holy Spirit inside us, we are the temple, the house of God, (1 Corinthians 3:16), and are pursued by Him with the same zeal, the same fervent love. Hallelujah!
He would gladly leave the 99 to pursue the one lost sheep. (Matthew 18:12)
The good shepherd lays down his life so that we may have it even more abundantly. (John 10:10-11)
His Zealous Love Cleanses Us
Fire, even in its natural form, is known to cleanse and remove all that’s filthy. It’s known to purify.
The zealous love of God blazes brighter and stronger than natural fire. It cleanses us of all that’s unworthy of Him, shaping and molding us into the very image of His Son, Jesus Christ. From grace to grace, and glory to glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Abba never does an incomplete work but uses even trials to purify our faith like gold. (1 Peter 1:7)
His zealous love works in us, day in and out, until the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6)
His Zealous Love Makes Us Whole
Every fear, every anxiety, all lack and want is washed and fulfilled by the perfect love of God. (1 John 4:18)
Abba poured out His holy wrath on Christ on the cross. The finished work of Christ has sanctified us once and for all (Hebrews 10:10) and made us kings and priests in the kingdom of God (1 Peter 2:9).
We can now boldly enter the throne room of grace and stand in the very presence of God (Hebrews 4:16), knowing that He has forgiven all our sins and iniquities! (Hebrews 8:12)
The perfect sacrifice made by the zealous love of Christ has made us His righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
We can now reign in life through Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:17) knowing that if Abba is for us, none can stand against us! (Romans 8:31)
Hallelujah!
What a great way to live each day, knowing that nothing can by any means harm us but that in all things we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us (zealously) (Romans 8:37)and gave Himself up for us.
All glory be to Him! Now and forever, Amen!
