Journey, an update 4-2-07
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:9-13
Last week I was reflecting on those who have zeal without knowledge (Romans 10:2). This week Romans 12:11 captured my attention. “Never be lacking in zeal.”
I have a friend who has been on a strict diet which includes a great deal of fasting. Every time I see her she mentions the program and how it has helped her with both her weight and her walk with the Lord. Over time I have come to expect every conversation with her to include something about this program. Then one day God whispered to me, “This is zeal. Are you as passionate about me, that those around you expect every conversation with you to include something about me?”
Zeal is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance. I certainly find myself lacking in zeal from time to time. Tireless diligence? There are days that I feel like I am just hanging on and I while I love the Lord no less I am certainly am not “enthusiastic” in reflecting that love. Yet, this is a command. “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord”. And if God commands it that means He can also enable me to do it.
The second thing that stood out to me is that this command is situated between verses that tell us how to love and how to serve. Our zeal is to be in love, in serving others while serving the Lord.
We don’t have zeal without knowledge but we have the Word of God, the truth of the Gospel and the Spirit of God living within us. We have zeal based on the promises, the hope He has given us.
Last week I was reflecting on those who have zeal without knowledge (Romans 10:2). This week Romans 12:11 captured my attention. “Never be lacking in zeal.”
I have a friend who has been on a strict diet which includes a great deal of fasting. Every time I see her she mentions the program and how it has helped her with both her weight and her walk with the Lord. Over time I have come to expect every conversation with her to include something about this program. Then one day God whispered to me, “This is zeal. Are you as passionate about me, that those around you expect every conversation with you to include something about me?”
Zeal is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance. I certainly find myself lacking in zeal from time to time. Tireless diligence? There are days that I feel like I am just hanging on and I while I love the Lord no less I am certainly am not “enthusiastic” in reflecting that love. Yet, this is a command. “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord”. And if God commands it that means He can also enable me to do it.
The second thing that stood out to me is that this command is situated between verses that tell us how to love and how to serve. Our zeal is to be in love, in serving others while serving the Lord.
We don’t have zeal without knowledge but we have the Word of God, the truth of the Gospel and the Spirit of God living within us. We have zeal based on the promises, the hope He has given us.
posted by Sojourner at 11:54 AM
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