Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
10 2 2024
What does living with Zeal mean? Are you all in?
Romans 12:6–8 says, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them,” and the last three go like this: “the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
The point? ‘Do what you do generously, do what you do zealously, and do what you do cheerfully’?” Meaning, “You really want to do it. You’re not being forced. You’re not half-hearted. You’re all in.”
Is that you?
God’s will is not simply that we do the right thing but that we do it with all our heart, all our soul, and all our might. That’s the point of those verses.
The very next verse, Romans 12:9, says, “Let [your] love be genuine. Abhor what is evil.” In other words, really love and really hate. Don’t let your love be half-hearted and unreal, and don’t let your recognition of evil simply be a mild disapproval but Abhorrent.
Then one verse later, in Romans 12:11, he says, “Do not be slothful in zeal” — same word as in
Romans 12:8 — “be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” So, the great object of the lives of believers is: “serve the Lord.” Seeking to magnify the worth and the greatness and the beauty of the Lord in all that you do.
But what burns in Paul’s zealous heart, is that we serve the Lord in a certain way — namely, not being sluggish or lukewarm in the way we serve the Lord, or do everything. This is a command for all Christians. What are your gifts? Are you using them? Or if you don’t know what your gifts are, have you gone looking for them or asked for help? (How long have you been putting that off?)
Beyond that, sometimes the easiest way to begin serving God is to volunteer at your Church. I think serving God often begins with being obedient. Take a baby step. Volunteer as a greeter or usher or in any area they might have a need. I have discovered when you open that door of obedience and embrace a heart of serving God and his Church your spiritual life will take on a new and powerful dynamic.
Being a Christian we have an imbedded conviction to live out the values of our Church and God’s word. We should have great expectations to not only grow in God but to grow with its members and join our community as God has commanded us to do for our good and their good too.
Using our gifts while serving is a step of spiritual growth. It requires we take ownership of what our love for Christ is supposed to look like. If we are not serving others…if we aren’t using our gifts to contribute to the growth of the church, we are neglecting a key component and a command of Jesus himself.
The community of our Church is about growth…not just on Sundays but every day. Our prayer life, engaging in the word on your own, being in a small group to be encouraged and built up and to do the same to others. They will exhort you…inspire you…and at times convict you to live on a higher plane with the Holy Spirit. Sharing our walk and sharing our life makes life so much richer and easier because they become over time like family. At times even closer than family.
Again, Romans 12:6–8 says, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them,” and the last three go like this: “the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
To authentically love God and love others requires giving, serving, and engaging. It’s called family. When we are not actively part of the body of Christ, we become isolated, stale, and dry.
God’s calling is for all of us to contribute to the growth of our Christian family…
to be there with zeal for one another… to serve using the unique gifts and personality
God gave to each of us. His call and our great privilege and objective are to “serve the Lord”
Seek to magnify the worth and the greatness and the beauty of the Lord in all that you do.
With Zeal…being all in!
The other way is too hard and too empty… We are not to be lethargic or slothful or lazy or half-hearted or sluggish or lukewarm in the way we serve the Lord, or the way we do everything, for that matter
. So, that phrase “be fervent in spirit” literally means “boil” — “boil in the spirit.”
In fact, the word “fervent” is the Latin word for “boil,” and Paul is saying,
“You don’t get a pass if your personality is phlegmatic.” If you were born passive, as a couch-potato-type person, you don’t get a pass.
This is not a comment on anyone’s personality. This is a command for all Christians.
Jesus was All In.
Excerpts are taken from Overcoming Spiritual Laziness by John Piper
Marvin Sapp Thank you for it all
