Are You Zealous?

 

When I was growing up, my girl friends and I would talk about what we wanted to be when we grew up.  Some wanted to be nurses, some ballerinas . . . but I only wanted to be a mother. When I was about five years old, I remember asking my mama one day, "Mama, can you have a baby without being married?"  

She said, "Yes, but why?"

I said, "Well, that's what I want to do because I don't ever want to get married."

In my little girl way, I was expressing my desire to be a mother.  I wanted a baby - because I loved them so much.  

Well, I did grow up to be a mother -- and I did get married first.  I prayed fervently for a baby, but it took four years of marriage before my first baby girl was born.  This was after I'd had a miscarriage the year before.  When I lost that baby, my heart was broken.  But, praise God, He blessed me with a healthy, beautiful girl.  She was my dream come true.

I wanted more children and prayed fervently again -- but it was six, long years before my second baby girl came.  I wanted more babies, but it was not to be.  I was, and am, so grateful for the two blessings God gave me.

Books were my passion while my girls were growing up.  I read everything I could get my hands on in order to learn how to be a good mother.  I watched other mothers and tried to emulate them.  I was passionate and I was zealous about teaching them God's Word. 

Both of my daughters are now adults, and I have two grandchildren.  While my parenting role has changed and I have made many mistakes along the way,  I remain zealous in my desire to be a good, godly mother . . . according to God's standard - not the world's.  Part of my role now is to be zealous in prayer for the loved ones God has given me.  I will not be complacent in this role.  God's word is my guiding light as I walk out my remaining days.  Do my actions and words line up with His Word?  That's the key to being  a good mother in His eyes.  My prayer is to hear Him say, "Well done, My good and faithful servant" not "Depart from me you who practice lawlessness."

These thoughts were inspired by this post by Nancy Campbell on her Facebook page, Above Rubies:  (used by permission)

ZEALOUS MOTHERS

 

Some people allow themselves to get eaten up inside with bitterness, hurt, and jealousy etc. As mothers, we cannot allow these attitudes in our lives for they destroy us and our entire family. We must keep our spirits whole—pure, blameless, and continually forgiving.

 

However, there is one area where the Bible tells us we can get “eaten up” inside? Do you know what it is? John 2:17 says of Jesus: “The zeal of thine house hath EATEN ME UP.” In other words, He was consumed with zeal for the honor of God’s house. These words were spoken after Jesus made a whip and cleansed the temple. He drove out all the sheep and oxen, tipped over all the tables and money, and cried out: “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise” (John 2:16).

He also cried out: “It is written, my house shall be called the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13). 

 

Your home is also God’s house if you have dedicated it to the Lord, which I am sure you have. 

 

Therefore, we should have the same zeal Jesus had to protect our homes and families. We are faithful watchwomen who drive all evil out of our homes. Even if we upset everyone! We won’t be tipping over tables and throwing money everywhere, but we’ll be strong enough to take a stand against any evil that seeks to bring darkness into our homes. 

 

We passionately keep our homes holy. 

 

We have the zeal of the Lord about making our home a House of Prayer! If our homes are not homes of prayer, can we call them God’s homes? We plan our schedules around our daily prayer times with our family. We don’t hope it fits in. We make it fit in to our schedule. Or better still, we make our schedule fit around our highest priority, our daily family times of prayer and Bible reading.

 

Jesus Christ redeemed us to be “zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). Building your home and family for God is a good work. Do it with zeal. Don’t do it halfheartedly, allowing other things to consume your mind and time. Embrace the great commission God has given to you and pour your heart into it. 

 

Sometimes, some wonderful mothers become zealously involved in a specific interest outside their home and it consumes them. Now, instead of continuing to build up their marriage and their home, they pour their life into this vain emptiness that is temporary and has no eternal value. Their home lies destitute. They are building empty castles in the air instead of building their family. 

 

May the blessings of God fall upon you, dear anointed, zealous, passionate mother.

~ Nancy Campbell

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