Never Lacking in Zeal

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord (Romans 12:11 NIV).

I love starting new projects! Oh, the excitement and anticipation of what the finished project will look like! But often, after awhile, the excitement fades, especially if the project isn't turning out like I expected, or if it's harder or takes longer to complete than anticipated. The bottom line is that once it isn't fun any more, it's easy to quit.

Surely I'm not alone in this. I know many people who have tons of yarn, art supplies, or quilting fabric stashed away in cabinets, closets, and drawers. In spite of the initial excitement, and in spite of the abundance of gorgeous materials, project after project gathers dust, when the enthusiasm for the projects wanes. This is a common problem, at least in the Western world. Our abundance often creates within us a lack of commitment to wisely use the resources we have. So we start projects and abandon them at will, with very little thought.

Although most Christians won't admit it, and perhaps are not even aware of it themselves, many treat their faith like a craft project. When they're in the mood, they get out their Christianity and play with it for awhile, but when the excitement dissipates, they stuff their faith away in a dark, forgotten closet. Sure, every now and then when they attend a retreat or hear an especially convicting sermon, they once again dust off their Bible and read it, or spend time in prayer every day - for awhile. But then before you know it, they once again lapse in their commitment and enthusiasm.

I've often lulled myself into thinking that mediocrity in my walk with the Lord is okay. . . at least some of the time. After all, I can't be expected to be excited about the Lord all the time, can I? Guess again. Paul's opinion on that matter is different than that of most people in the church today. His exhortation to the church in Rome makes it obvious that he expected Christians to be fervent in their walk with the Lord not just some of the time, but all the time. That may seem impossible, but I believe with God's help, it is possible!

Are you currently zealous in your walk with the Lord, or have you allowed yourself to slip into humdrum Christianity? If you're lacking in zeal, ask God to draw you closer to Him, and while you're at it, dust your Bible off, and consider what the Lord might have to say to you today!