Never be lacking in zeal,
but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Romans 12:11 (NIV)
This past year has forced me from a state of apathy where I’d lingered far too long, content to glide along without direction or focus. I’d settled for a good enough existence, satisfied just to make it through each day.
But a flame that isn’t tended gradually goes out. I like the way The Message translates this verse; “Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame.” I can’t expect God to invest in my life when I don’t invest in it as well. Spiritual growth is not passively acquired. It entails diligence and a deliberate choice to pursue God even when my circumstances are unpleasant or when spiritual fervor stretches my boundaries.
My true enemy is not hardship, it is complacency. When I settle for the status quo and lose my passion for Christ, I risk sinking into a state of apathy. That’s exactly what happened to the believers in Laodicea; “I (the LORD) know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16).
Don’t settle for lukewarm. Live with purpose and with all your might. Keep your heart and mind fueled and aflame for God. What you invest in your spiritual walk will shore up your faith and strengthen you for the road ahead.
Thought: “While we worry about how fast we grow; God is concerned about how strong we grow.” – Rick Warren
For further reading:
- Revelation 3:16
- Zephaniah 1:12-13
- Proverbs 15:19
- Hebrews 5:11-12
Excerpt from my devotional, A Year in God’s Classroom