Always Ready: The Power of Zeal in the Life of a Believer

PreachingToday.com shares a neat story from a sermon on “Heaven” by Lee Eclov.

Robby Robins was an Air Force pilot during the Gulf War. After his 300th mission, he was surprised to be permitted to pull his crew together and fly his plane home immediately.

They flew across the ocean to Massachusetts and then had a long drive to western Pennsylvania. They drove all night, and when his buddies dropped him off at his driveway just after sun-up, there was a big banner across the garage—”Welcome Home Dad!”

How did they know? No one had called, and the crew themselves hadn’t expected to leave so quickly.

Robins relates, “When I walked into the house, the kids, about half dressed for school, screamed, ‘Daddy!’ Susan came running down the hall—she looked terrific—hair fixed, make-up on, and a crisp yellow dress. ‘How did you know?’ I asked.

‘I didn’t,’ she answered through tears of joy. ‘Once we knew the war was over, we knew you’d be home one of these days. We knew you’d try to surprise us, so we were ready every day.'”

Ready. Everyday. That’s an apt description of a zealous Christian.

Among various exhortations to the young evangelist Titus, Paul writes, “Be ready for every good work” (Titus 3:1).

William Barclay comments on this command with this observation.
“The characteristic modern disease is boredom, and boredom is the direct result of selfishness. So long as a man lives on the principle of, “Why should I do it? Let someone else do it,” he is bound to be bored. The interest of life lies in service.”

Well, the zealous Christian is neither bored, selfish, nor uninterested in a good work. He/She is ready.

Readiness suggests being prepared, equipped, and poised for Christian service. Being ready means one is both available and willing to work. The ready disciple is alert and watchful. He imbibes the attitude of the simple command: “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord” (Rom. 12:11).

Spiritual readiness is indeed both a mindset and a lifestyle that demonstrates a committed heart, a transformed life, and a willingness to serve in whatever circumstance. Being ready begins with one’s surrender to Jesus and growth in his relationship that abides in Christ.

Other Biblical admonitions also speak to the spirit of readiness.

• Be ready to give an answer for your hope to those seeking answers (1Pet. 3:15
• Be ready to give and willing to share your prosperity (1 Tim. 6:18-19)
• Be ready to receive the word and search the scriptures (Ax. 17:11).
• Be ready, my preacher friend, to preach the gospel (Rom. 1:15).
• Be ready to participate in benevolent programs for the needy (2 Cor. 8:19-20)
• Be ready for the Lord’s return (Matt. 24:44)

Note that Paul said, “ready to every good work.” Not every work is good. Nor are they all important, pressing, or take priority. Readiness involves discernment, judgment, and savvy to distinguish what is truly valuable from what merely fills our time. depletes our energy and crowds out more important work.

A ready mind and heart quickly overcome inertia. It is neither lazy, apathetic, nor indifferent. It is active, awake, and alert. To this end, Paul would urge those who are spiritually slumbering, “it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11). In other words, be ready.

The ready Christian is quick to lend a helping hand, speak the truth in love, share an encouraging word, and offer forgiveness when it is asked for. They don’t have to be asked, begged, embarrassed, or cajoled. They are “zealous for good works (Titus 2:14).

Zeal and readiness go hand in hand. Zeal energizes readiness. Zeal gives urgency to readiness. And zeal sustains readiness even in the face of discouraging circumstances.

As one anonymous writer put it. “Zeal doesn’t just make you ready; it makes you want to be ready, and that changes everything.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman