EXHORTATIONS (PART 5)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Romans 12:11

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

How are we to live as Christians in the world?

Well, hopefully we are living differently than the world would have us live.

We have looked at some of these ways in the earlier devotions in this eleven message series titled “Exhortations”, based on Paul’s words found at the end of Romans, Chapter 12.

We’re to devote ourselves to loving others with sincerity.

We’re to hate evil and cling to good by ensuring we are bound to Him in every way.

We’re to seek to live in harmony, not divided and opposed but together and at peace.

And we’re not supposed to be self centered and self serving but rather people who seek to honor and respect others about ourselves.

Today, we add one more commandment for Christian living and this one is about our spiritual attitude as we seek to carry our God’s will each and every day. Paul’s encourages his readers (including us today) to “never be lacking in zeal”, instead sustaining “spiritual fervor” as they serve the Lord.

Doing what the Lord desires isn’t a boring, lackluster life. It’s not just a 9 to 5 job where we get up, go to work, go home to rest and sleep., and then get up and do it all again the next day. It’s not supposed to be seen as a “wash-rinse-repeat” sequencing of ministry.

No, serving our Lord should get us pumped up every day. It’s the greatest privilege and honor we are given and God gives us the opportunity daily, over and over and over again. He could do anything without us but yet He chooses to partner with us to accomplish His amazing purposes. If that can’t get you excited then I’m afraid nothing can.

So this leads to the questions of the day, questions the Lord would have us ask ourselves as we respond to the exhortation in today’s scripture verse:

How well are you carrying out your service to the Lord with spiritual passion?

Do the people you interact with see your enthusiasm in continuing the Gospel work of Jesus in response to His Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)?

If we’re honest, I think we all could probably do better in one or both of these areas. The good news is that tomorrow is a new day and the chance to renew your Christian spirit through the power and help of the Holy Spirit. Let’s all devote ourselves to show obvious and evident zeal for our Lord and spiritual fervor for the work He has called us to do.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com