I am still young and have a lot of chances—lots of opportunities—lots of years to show what I can do. But what if God would take my life tomorrow? Am I ready? Am I sure that I will be counted worthy to enter God’s kingdom? Can I be proven to be a good and faithful servant of God? Am I showing my love to God and to my neighbor?

Having an enthusiasm to serve others is very easy if they reflect back the same with appreciation to the service rendered. But when God brought me into a situation where people are complacent and lethargic, that was the time when I learned the real meaning of zeal!

Zeal is spiritual in nature. It is something that only God can give us. Without a great love and passion for something, we cannot have the zeal to do a certain thing.

I am a person who almost fell into the pit of discouragement when I saw brethren who did not do things that are godly and edifying. I almost lost my enthusiasm when I saw brethren who were complacent! In my thoughts, I was already judging others for not being a light to the world, not realizing that I myself was already casting darkness by the mere act of accusing them! It was God who eventually rescued me. He made me realize that I was very busy trying to remove the speck from my brothers’ eye instead of removing that plank from my own! God made me realize that selfishness was eating me up. I was just looking for the spiritual comfort my brethren would offer without doing something to cause them to be stirred up to do to others with zeal and a sense of urgency. I have so many things to change, to improve on, and to overcome. The more I examine myself, the more I realize how imperfect I am! I run to God and ask for His help and forgiveness. That was the time that I committed my life to Him. By that time, my outlook in life became different. I started thinking outside the box. Instead of asking, “What can my brethren do for me?” I am asking myself, “What can I do for my brethren?” That was the time that I realized zeal is something that a person can only get from God, not just for yourself but also for others as well. It is going away from self-centeredness leaning towards genuine love and concern for others. Since then, I became busy striving to live my life according to God’s standard, preparing myself for the coming of our Savior. I started participating in Church activities with the right attitude. Much to my amazement, those activities prospered! I became more and more excited to serve God and to fellowship with His people! I just realized that God is already using me to touch the lives of others. A brother in Christ told me that he is thankful that we became friends because my zeal and enthusiasm to serve has become contagious enough to stir him to participate in Church activities! I cannot get any credit from it because it was God who is working in us. I am really happy and thankful for it!

I am aware that as a Christian, I still have a lot of things to do, to change and to improve in life. As a young servant of God, I can stir up the zeal and sense of urgency in His Church by being zealous myself. I need to keep on asking God to stir up the zeal and sense of urgency within me since He is the only source of zeal. I realize that I also need to do my part and act now! I know that it would not be that easy. The adversary would always do his best to stop and discourage me. There might be critics and scoffers but I do not have time for them. I need to do it urgently! Time is running short! I don’t know how much time is left for me to do this! I need to do my part in order to be a light for others by cultivating my relationship with God, and my relationship with my brethren. As long as I have God by my side, I know that there is nothing to be afraid of!

I will continue to serve the Church through my own simple but sincere ways like participating in youth activities, actively helping in the literature display each Sabbath, sharing my God-given skills and talents during special music and youth camps, initiating a godly fellowship with the brethren in meekness and humility, inspiring the brethren to reach their full potential, and with God’s help, becoming a shining example for everyone. I know that in God’s time, as I grow and mature, I can do more in service to God and His Church. But no matter how small or big that service will be, there is only one thing that matters—it is my heart and attitude towards it.

My goal in this life is not to be in the limelight, but to be a light in this darkened world. I do not want to do things to be praised by men, but I will do things that would cause men to praise God.

Even though how little are the things I am doing to stir up the zeal and sense of urgency in God’s Church, as long as I have God to help me, I am positive that it can start a spark that can eventually ignite a fire in the belly that can engulf God’s Church someday!