7/3 Romans 12:11

11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.


Believers in Jesus have a purpose and a calling. We realize we have a short amount of time to invest in eternity and glorify God on the earth. This should fill us with eagerness to be accomplishing God's will each day. Paul is warning us not to slack off and lose the passion to accomplish what God has called us to do. There is an urgency to rescue the souls of those who are perishing without salvation.

The original language for fervent meant "boiling liquid or glowing metal." Our spirit is our innermost being where the Spirit of God dwells within us. It is from our spirit that we commune with the Spirit of God. Sometimes we refer to it as our heart. If we are to stay passionate about our service to God, we need to keep stoking the fire in our spirit. We need to keep that two-way communion with God open and vibrant. It is from a heart that glows from the heat of God's love that we can reach out and show His love to others.

Fervency of spirit is necessary to serve the Lord as we should. If we forget the greatness and privilege of God's call on our lives, these necessary qualities will grow cold and our service to God will falter. How stoked are you? I find that when I am growing cold, it is because I have not been in the Word of God and listening to the Spirit in prayer. If I'm not meditating on Scripture and challenged by on-fire brothers or sisters in Christ, my heart begins to cool and the world has a greater attraction. We dare not neglect our time with God and fellowship with the family of God.

Prayer: Lord, help me to order my days so that You are my priority. May all that I do and say be guided by Your loving instructions to me. Help me to keep fanning the flame.