If zeal is true it will be a zeal about things according to God’s mind, and sanctioned by clear examples in God’s Word.

Take, for example, that highest and best kind of zeal-I mean zeal for our own growth in personal holiness.

Such zeal will make a man continually feel that sin is the mightiest of all evils, and conformity to Christ the greatest of all blessings.

It will make him feel that there is nothing which ought not to be done, in order to keep up a close walk with God.

It will make him willing to cut off his right hand, or pluck out his right eye, or make any sacrifice, if only he can attain a closer communion with Jesus.

Isn’t this just what you see in the Apostle Paul? He says, “I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.—I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal” (1 Corinthians 9:27, Philippians 3:13-14).

Take, as another example, zeal for the salvation of souls.

Such zeal will make a man burn with desire to remove the darkness which covers the souls of multitudes, and to bring every man, woman, and child he sees to the knowledge of the Gospel. Isn’t this what you see in the Lord Jesus? It is said that He neither gave Himself nor His disciples much spare time and at times they didn’t even have a chance to eat (Mark 6:31). Isn’t this what you see in the Apostle Paul? He says, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Take, for another instance, zeal against evil practices.

Such zeal will make a man hate everything which God hates, such as drunkenness, slavery, or infanticide, and long to sweep it from the face of the earth. It will make him jealous of God’s honor and glory, and look on everything which robs Him of it as an offense. Isn’t this what you see in Phinehas, the son of Eleazar? Or in Hezekiah and Josiah, when they eliminated idolatry in the land?

Take, as another example, zeal for maintaining the doctrines of the Gospel.

Such zeal will make a man hate unscriptural teaching, just as he hates sin. It will make him regard religious error as a pestilence which must be stopped, whatever the cost may be. It will make him scrupulously careful about every word in the counsel of God, lest by some omission the whole Gospel would be spoiled. Isn’t this what you see in Paul at Antioch, when he withstood Peter to his face and said he was clearly in the wrong? (Galatians 2:11)

These are the kind of things that true zeal is made of. Such zeal, let us understand, is honorable before God.

—Christian Zeal, by J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)

“It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good.” (Galatians 4:18)

Read the rest of this Christ exalting work on the Biblical nature of Christian Zeal here, it’s proper place in the Christian life and how downplayed and omitted it is in Moralistic-Therapeutic Religion today. This work has done a great kindling in my heart. It is my sincere hope and prayer that, by His grace, I would be that man that dear J.C. Ryle describes here. O, that we may all be single-minded in our occupation of living for Christ, and Christ alone!