April 6 Daily Devotional

Zeal for God's House

the Rev. David Freeman

"The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up"
"John 2:17.

Devotional

(continued)

Zeal should be according to knowledge. Alas, how many go beyond or come short of revealed truth in their exercises for the Lord. Truly, it is not the Lord they serve, but another God than the God of Israel. Their head is light and their soul is sick.

But knowledge without zeal argues the rottenness of the heart. When knowledge causes no vigorous doing of duty there is much that is wrong. It is the stagnant pool that has no overflow.

It is often said that ministers should preach faith and repentance, but should never utter a word of zeal for Christ's cause and interest. So they should stand idly by when wrongs and indignities are done Him by blasphemous men who take to themselves powers and prerogatives which belong to God alone. Yea, can ministers of Christ do this? Have they so learned of their Lord? Not so! Not so! To faith and repentance, hath He not joined zeal?

Those who believe with the heart and do not confess with the mouth deny the Scriptures, which say, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." The open declaration of where the Christian stands is called for as well as believing with the heart.

Today our Lord has been wounded and wronged. In the visible church He who is its rightful King and Head has been dethroned and the wicked desires of apostate men have been placed in His stead. But alas! Where is sorrow for it and zeal against it? Sooner should we lose our hearts' blood than let go the kingly rights of Christ and the liberties He has given to the members of His body.

Brethren, we have a noble testimony to contend for. No church in the world ever had a better cause to suffer for.

If there be any love to Christ or to your own souls let not your zeal and strength be restrained toward God.

"Lift Up Your Heart" is a series of devotionals by the late Rev. David Freeman, an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church for most of his life. These devotionals, in fact, are part of the early history of our denomination. The first of them was published in The Presbyterian Guardian in 1935; the denomination now known as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was officially formed in 1936. We believe that "the Word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:25). Thus it is no surprise that meditations based on that Word have continued relevance today. Dr. Freeman's devotionals are proof of that fact.

David Freeman was a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.B., 1928; Th.M. , 1930) and of Dropsie Univiersity (Ph.D., 1951). He served as pastor at Grace (later New Covenant) Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1936-1946), Knox Presbyterian Church (OPC), Philadelphia, PA (1949-1962), and Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC), Fall River, MA (1962-1967). He authored many articles and (along with his son, David H. Freeman) is the author of the book A Philosophical Study of Religion, which appeared in 1964. He went to be with the Lord in 1984.

There is one change from the way the daily devotional was handled in the past with John Skilton's Think On These Things: New devotionals for the new series appear on weekdays only (Monday through Saturday. It is suggested that you use your pastor's sermon text(s) as the basis for your mediations on the Lord's Day.

We trust that you will find these devotionals, once again made available seventy years after they first appeared, to be a personal help in your own Christian walk today!