.....zeal

For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge Romans 10:2

For the second week in a row, it was just the two of them — father and son — standing on an empty soccer field. No teammates. No coach. No practice. Frustrated, the dad turned to his son and said, “Please tell your coach that we keep coming to practice, but no one is ever here.”

His son replied, “He’ll just tell me the same thing he did before.”

“And what was that?”

“That practice is now on Wednesdays, not Tuesdays.”

That father was faithfully taking his son to practice — on time, every time — but to no avail. His consistency and commitment were real, but they were out of step with reality. He had the right heart, but the wrong information.

That’s a powerful picture of what Paul describes in Romans 10. He’s talking about people who are zealous for God — full of passion, energy, and dedication — but their zeal isn’t based on knowledge. Their sincerity is real, but it’s misdirected. Their devotion is genuine, but it isn’t rooted in the truth of who God is or what God desires.

Sometimes we find ourselves in that same position. We can be incredibly busy for God — serving, volunteering, attending church, doing all the “right” things — and yet still miss what matters most. We might cling to tradition, habit, or our own understanding without checking to see if it’s truly rooted in what God desires or reveals in his Word. Like showing up to practice on the wrong day, we’re active but off track.

Zeal without knowledge is like running hard in the wrong direction. God isn’t looking for mere activity — He’s looking for relationship, truth, and obedience. He wants our enthusiasm to be guided by his Spirit and grounded in his Word.

It’s not about doing more for God — it’s about doing what God is actually calling us to do. And that starts by listening, learning, and adjusting when necessary.

- alan smith

Father, help me not only to be passionate about you but also to walk in wisdom and truth. Guide my steps and let my energy be spent on the things that truly matter to you. May my zeal be grounded in your Word, guided by your Spirit, and shaped by your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.