Daily Devotionals

Music For the Soul

Devotional: January 27th

MISDIRECTED ZEAL

I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge . - Romans 10:2

There is nothing more tragic in this world than misdirection of man’s capacity for love and sacrifice. It is like the old story in the book of Daniel, of how the heathen monarch made a great feast, and when the wine began to inflame the guests, sent for the sacred vessels taken from the Temple of Jerusalem, that had been used for Jehovah’s worship, and, as the narrative says, with a kind of shudder at the profanation. " They brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the House of God, which was at Jerusalem, and the king and his princes, his wives and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine and praised the gods."

So this heart of mine, which has the Master’s initials and His arms engraven upon it, in token that it is His cup - this heart of mine I too often fill with the poisonous and intoxicating draught of earthly pleasure and earthly affections; and, as I drink it, the madness goes through my veins, and I praise the gods of my own making instead of Him whom alone I ought to love. We should be our own rebukes in this matter, and the heroism’s of the world should put to shame the cowardice and the selfishness of the Church. Contrast the depth of your affection for your household with the tepidity of your love for your Saviour. Contrast the willingness with which you sacrifice yourself for some dear one with the grudgingness with which you yield yourselves to Him. Contrast the rest and the sense of satisfaction in the presence of those you love, and your desolation when they are absent, with the indifference whether you have Christ beside you or not. And remember that the measure of your power of loving is the measure of your obligation to love your Lord; and that if you are all frost to Him and all fervor to them, in a very solemn sense "a man’s foes shall be they of his own household." " He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me! "

I would beseech you to bring that power of uncalculating love and self-sacrificing affection which is in you, and fasten it where it ought to fix - on Christ, who died on the Cross for you. Such a love will bring blessedness to you. Such a love will ennoble and dignify your whole nature, and make you a far greater and fairer man or woman than you otherwise ever could be. Like some little bit of black carbon put into an electric current, my poor nature will flame into beauty and radiance when that spark touches it. So, love Him and be at peace; give yourselves to Him, and He will give you back yourselves, ennobled and transfigured by the surrender. Lay yourselves on His altar, and that altar will sanctify both the giver and the gift.