Bible Verses About Religious Zeal

We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal.

Therefore, whether at home or away from home, we try our utmost to please him;

So it is with the fear of the Lord before us that we try to persuade people. Moreover, God knows us as we really are; and I hope that in your consciences you too know us as we really are.

If we are insane, it is for God’s sake; and if we are sane, it is for your sake.

For the Messiah’s love has hold of us, because we are convinced that one man died on behalf of all mankind (which implies that all mankind was already dead),

And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation,

Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is making his appeal through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, “Be reconciled to God!

We try not to put obstacles in anyone’s path, so that no one can find fault with the work we do.

On the contrary, we try to commend ourselves in every way as workers for God by continually enduring troubles, hardships, calamities,

beatings, imprisonments, riots, overwork, lack of sleep and food.

We commend ourselves by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by the Ruach HaKodesh; by genuineness of love

and truthfulness of speech; and by God’s power. We commend ourselves through our use of righteous weapons, whether for pressing our cause or defending it;

through being honored and dishonored, praised and blamed, considered deceptive and sincere,

unknown and famous. And we commend ourselves as God’s workers headed for death, yet look! we’re alive! as punished, yet not killed;

as having reason to be sad, yet always filled with joy; as poor, yet making many people rich; as having nothing, yet having everything!

Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you, we have opened our hearts wide.

Make room for us in your hearts — we haven’t wronged anyone, we haven’t corrupted anyone, we haven’t exploited anyone.

For just look at what handling the pain God’s way produced in you! What earnest diligence, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what readiness to put things right! In everything you have proved yourselves blameless in the matter.

Now, brothers, we must tell you about the grace God has given the congregations in Macedonia.

Despite severe trials, and even though they are desperately poor, their joy has overflowed in a wealth of generosity.

I tell you they have not merely given according to their means, but of their own free will they have given beyond their means.

They begged and pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service for God’s people.

Also, they didn’t do this in the way we had expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord, which means, by God’s will, to us.

Now I thank God for making Titus as devoted to you as we are;

for he not only responded to our urging, but, being so devoted, he is coming to you on his own initiative.