“Brethren, my heart’s desire and pray to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Memory verse: That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:10
May times we genuinely do things out of ignorance. We do things with good intention but because we lack basic knowledge, we just continually progress on that path assuming that service without understanding is simply enough to qualify as a child of God. We therefore get caught up in the services and manmade laws, just like the Israelites who had just the right level of passion but had no knowledge of God.
The reason why most people stand out is not just because of their zeal. Without an element of doubt, being zealous is good and we need that to help us remain focused on the right path but what is the good of a zeal if it’s all towards the wrong cause. Apostle Paul fell into that category before his encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus. He was focused on the law and did everything to ensure those who were not followers of Christ were tortured, prosecuted and where possible killed. “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison”, Acts 8:3.
For Saul, he thought he was doing just the right thing because he was a man who understood the law but what use is the law of man when God rules over all? Until Saul had that encounter, he lacked knowledge and was therefore living in ignorance. But when Saul had an encounter, his whole life changed. “Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God”, Acts 9:20.
There is no amount of service and dependence on manmade laws that can make us right with God because we cannot be made whole with God through our own righteousness. Human knowledge is limited and human righteousness at its best is just like fitly rags, according to the scriptures in Isaiah 64:6.
So therefore, unless we seek God truly and focus on following His ways, our works may earn us earthly rewards, but we still have no place with the trinity in paradise.
The only road that leads to salvation is Jesus Christ, John 14:6, the only way to earn a place is to know Him and follow Him.
When in doubt, Seek his word and not the world. God wants a relationship not performance.
PRAYERS
- Father I thank you for your loving kindness
- Thank you for all you have done for me and have given me in gifts, talents and instruments of miracles
- Help me Lord to know you more, have an understanding of you, come to the realisation of you and not be zealous without knowledge
- Help me to prioritize the things of the kingdom and not procrastinate spiritually and physically
- Use me Lord as a ready vessel unto honor, I am ready for your use Lord, use me
- Forgive me Lord of all my iniquities, bless me abundantly and make me a blessing unto others, in Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen.