A Zealous Love {James & John}
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12
Some of us are known for what we do.
Some of us are known by what we’ve done.
Some of us are known by family name.
Some of us are known because of our nationality or hometown.
Peter’s nickname helped him remember his life changed when he chose to follow Jesus.
The disciples James and John were known as the “Sons of Zebedee” because their father, Zebedee, was a man of importance.
They were given the name “Sons of Thunder,” which referred to their insensitive, strong, and ambitious personalities.
A zealous character trait is only good when used for God’s glory.
If this powerful trait is used in the wrong context it could be harsh and destructive.
James wanted a crown of glory; Jesus gave him a cup of suffering. He wanted power; Jesus gave him servanthood. He wanted a place of prominence; Jesus gave him a martyr’s grave. He wanted to rule; Jesus gave him a sword – not to wield, but to be an instrument of his own execution. Fourteen years after this James would become the first of the Twelve to be killed for his faith. James MacArthur, Twelve Ordinary Men
Belief creates a change within.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2nd Corinthians 5:17
No longer are we known for what we do, or what we did.
No longer are we known for our family name alone.
No longer are we only known for our nationality or hometown.
Instead we are known for whose we are.
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba,Father.’ Romans 8:15
Belief creates life.
As a child of God you are a member of a new Spiritual family. This family has members around the world and is known for truth and love.
Jesus needed the brothers to understand their role in the family, so He quieted the brothers’ zealous ambition with a story.
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.’ Mark 9:35-37
To be first they must become servants. Bend low to be high?
Stooping low caused the brothers to look beyond their lofty ambition to find the highest form of love – a sacrificial love.
…until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:13-15
The brothers’ Spiritual maturity grew to a greater depth after spending time with Jesus.
They began to understand the world from God’s perspective.
From a “Son of Thunder” to an “apostle of love,” John’s life and his zeal were transformed and he wrote a Gospel filled with truth and love.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)
Do you see yourself as someone filled with zealous self-ambition, or are you filled with a zeal for the Lord?
When finished with each chapter of my life, I can only pray the people I have impacted say, “She loved well.”
MacArthur, John. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You. Nashville, TN: W Pub. Group, 2002. Print.
Basking in His Light
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