Let's be zealous!
So, I only got around 4 hours of sleep last night and please don't ask why. Whatever the reason, as I don't have one myself, I still managed to get up at the stroke of 6am and make my way to class. The temptation to put my head on the table and sleep until class actually started was surprisingly low and I was thankful that I remembered to put my "new" book in my bag. Yes, this is my latest book push: "True Discipleship" written by William MacDonald. It used to be required reading for people joining OM and I wonder how many people in OM now have actually read it and if OM today would be different if it remained a required reading along with many others.
So far I have reached page 36 and though this number is relatively small, the content feels like I've just been given a huge meal to chew on. I was so encouraged by the short but powerful chapter on stewardship that took Jesus at his word as this seemed to expand and dig deeper than a similar chapter in my last book ("The Man in the Mirror", as you might recall). What really got my attention this morning, however, and probably kept me awake for the rest of the day, as the chapter entitled "Zeal".
Such a small word and yet the definition given in this chapter seems potent enough to humble any self-claimed disciple to their knees. Here's the first 5 lines of the chapter:
"A disciple can be forgiven if he does not have great mental ability. He can be forgiven if he does not display outstanding physical prowess. But no disciple can be excused if he does not have zeal. If his heart is not aflame with a red-hot passion for the Saviour, he stands condemned." What a challenge to be a radical for Jesus!
I'm definitely looking forward to the next couple of chapters 'Faith' and 'Prayer'- after reading so far and being challenged so deeply, I am just ecstatic at the prospect of being moulded ever more into His image. If you're worried about picking this book up, I will tell you that it only has 95 pages but I also have to warn you that your life, surely, cannot remain in the same state it has been when you finish! *grin*
"If the Christian faith is worth believing in at all, it is worth believing in heroically"
(Findlay- quote from the book)
