God’s Enthusiasm

Read: Isaiah 9:1-7

The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! Isaiah 9:7

IN WORD

How does God feel about an everlasting, ever-increasing government based on righteousness, truth, and justice? Apparently, He gets pretty excited about it. Perhaps that sentiment doesn’t seem to fit a dignified theology of His nature, but Scripture isn’t shy about describing His emotions. And in this case, He’s enthusiastic. In His zeal, He will accomplish all that the prophet has spoken.

We long for such a response from God. When we pray according to His promises, we want Him to be zealous about fulfilling them. When we bring Him our desires, we want Him to be as enthusiastic about them as we are. We want to know that just as He told Jeremiah, He is watching over His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). We know that when He wants something to happen, He can make it happen.

Think of that: The power of God plus the zeal of God over a matter makes that matter a sure thing. Nothing can stop Him if He doesn’t want to be stopped. Yes, it can be hard to understand His will and why it isn’t always accomplished in our world, but when He speaks, His people believe, and His zeal surrounds that word, it’s a done deal. The energy of God is an unstoppable force.

IN DEED

Remember that truth when you pray and grab hold of one of God’s promises. If He has spoken a promise, it’s because He wanted to. And if He wanted to speak it, He intends to fulfill it if its necessary conditions are met. There may be some response of faith or action lacking on our part, but there is nothing lacking on His. His zeal plus His power makes an irresistible combination.

Let that fuel your prayers and your faith. Let it raise your confidence in Him and comfort you during the long delays and detours of the faith life. Know that the things that matter to you also matter to Him. And whenever He is able to merge them with the plans of His government, His own zeal will accomplish them.

ADDITIONAL READING: Jeremiah 1:11-12

Learn to plead the promises of God!

AMBROSE WHALEY