Religious Zeal: General Scriptures Concerning

But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”

The people replied, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!

“No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the LORD answered the prayers on behalf of the land, and the plague upon Israel was halted.

And as for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, with a heart of integrity and uprightness, doing all I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and ordinances,

The high places were not removed, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted to the LORD all his days.

I know, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness. All these things I have given willingly and with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You.

And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart. They had sought Him earnestly, and He was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.

However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”

Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be done diligently for His house. For why should wrath fall on the realm of the king and his sons?

Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?

You have raised a banner for those who fear You, that they may flee the bow. Selah

Sing to the LORD, bless His name; proclaim His salvation day after day.

Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.

Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!” The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.

My zeal has consumed me because my foes forget Your words.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD shall take no rest for yourselves,

…nor give Him any rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.

Then the remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind.

Then the LORD answered me: “Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it.

But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work! For I am with you, declares the LORD of Hosts.

This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt. And My Spirit remains among you; do not be afraid.”

On that day, HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the house of the LORD will be like the sprinkling bowls before the altar.

Indeed, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD of Hosts, and all who sacrifice will come and take some pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of Hosts.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. …

Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.

No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light.

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

“Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.”

Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”

While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.

“Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.

God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you

For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.

Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.

What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; …

If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.

It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; …

And in keeping with what is written, “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. …

Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.

Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.

Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

…redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, …

Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel,

…without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God.

…so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

…though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: …

But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.

But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.

He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,

You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.

If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. …

Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. …

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,

…consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,

…and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.

Beloved, although I made every effort to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all to the saints. …

Those I love I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.

And I began to weep bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.