Zeal: How to Bring Yours to a Boil

In scripture, a “zeal for God” is described as a boiling cauldron or red-hot steel.

Yet the opposite of that zealous passion is not hard, cold heartlessness (contrary to accepted belief). Rather, it is lukewarm, half-hearted complacency. That indifference angers God. “Because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16, NIV).

Ouch. That edict alone is an overpowering motive to run from a smug, self-satisfied complacent faith to one of passionate, boiling zeal.

The Battle against Lukewarm Temperatures

Image: Science Alert

How do you bring a pot of water to boil? You apply heat.

A pot’s surface conducts heat from the burner to the pan. Water closest to the heat – the lower part of the pot – rises in temperature and moves upward. Then, the lukewarm water above it circulates down, replacing the hotter water, to sit directly above the heat. The cycle continues as water in the lower portion of the pot heats and moves up through the interior of the pot to the surface, while cooler water moves down. Soon the entire pan of water simmers or churns as the water bubbles and boils.

Yet in order for water to keep boiling, the pot must remain on the heat. Otherwise, the water returns to its lukewarm, tepid, room-temperature state.

Likewise, in order for you to stay “boiling” for God, you must stay “on the heat,” feeding your passion for Him. Otherwise, you will return to your normal, lukewarm, complacent state.

Set Yourself on a Hot Burner to Boil

To move a lukewarm faith to boiling zeal may require you to set yourself on a hot burner in steps like these:

Face your complacency. Ask God to stir your soul to become more passionate for Him.
Fill your mind with God’s Word. Scripture creates a bubbling effect as it moves through your soul.
Talk and listen to God. The conversation’s back-and-forth creates a churning much like a bubbling pot of water.
Think about God more. This keeps other passions in second place.
Notice God’s movement. Whether in nature, in others’ lives, or in your own life, take note of how God moves so you can praise Him more.

Complacency’s status quo prevents progress. It’s our natural spiritual “default” and a lot like lukewarm water – bland and unmoving. You can allow your faith to become tepid and stagnant. Or you can set yourself on the heat to boil and become more and more passionate for God.

Scripture tells us which one God overwhelmingly prefers. The choice now is yours.