Zealous

 

Wednesday, Marleen called me all in a panic.  The electricity was off at her house, and her garage door wouldn’t open.  She was trapped!  First, I calmed her down, and then I tried to explain the door release rope on the garage door opener.  But the more I explained, the more complicated my explanation became.  So I just said, “I’ll be there in a minute.”  And I got into my car and drove over to her house.  I did the 11 minutes in 8 … with my seatbelt firmly buckled.  When I arrived, she was standing at the front door looking distraught.  One smile from me eased her expression.  We walked through the house, out of the back door and into the dark garage.  Thank goodness for cellphone flashlights!  I pulled the release cord, lifted the garage door, and the glorious sunlight came streaming in.  Marleen was released from her garage door prison.  She backed her car out, I shut the garage door, and we were off for another day of repairs at church.  And, as I reflected on the morning, I understood the word “zealous”.  Marleen had an emergency, and I was able to help.  But it was urgent that I get to her as quickly as possible.  I was “zealous” as I drove from my house to her house.  Hey, are we as zealous to serve the dear Lord?  As we think of the resurrection, Easter Sunday morning, and the second coming of Jesus Christ, are we excited to serve the risen Savior?  Paul said in Titus 2:13&14, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”  We don’t serve Jesus in order to be saved; we serve Jesus because we are saved.  We serve from hearts of gratitude.  And we serve zealously!