Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- September 3, 2013
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:11-12
Spiritual fervor is evidence of faith that is alive. It is vibrant and effervescent in expectation of an encounter with God. The commitment of a zealous follower of Jesus is contagious. They lift the faith of other believers by simply believing what the Lord says is true, adjusting their behavior to His commands. Like a match stick ignites a fuse of dynamite, so someone’s spiritual spark can enflame an entire community for Christ. Spiritual fervor burns brightly in service to God!
For example, a person who passionately prays influences other prayer partners to earnestly pray. Your prayer life is revived when you pray with someone who has a hot heart for heaven. What area of your Christian life has cooled off? If your generosity has grown cold then hang around a generous giver who liberally shares their life and money. If you have become mute in sharing the gospel then accompany a bold witness for Jesus. Zeal for Christ is as much caught as taught!
He (Apollos) had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately. Acts 18:25
Spiritual fervor comes from sitting at the feet of your Heavenly Father and learning His ways. His Holy Spirit will instruct you accurately about Jesus and His great love for you. Learn from the Lord and you will have fervor for the Lord. Also, engage as a student of Holy Scripture under the teaching of gifted Bible teachers. Scripture applied to your soul is like pouring gasoline on a campfire. You are combustible for Christ when the Spirit ignites your heart with God’s truth.
Lastly, make sure by God’s grace your knowledge keeps up with your zeal. Ignorance on fire can bruise relationships and even alienate those who want to know more about Christ. As a Spirit-filled follower of Jesus you can be confrontational without being combative. The honey of God’s grace is sweet to the lips of the lost, but self righteous speech is sour and distasteful. Stay broken before the Lord and your spiritual fervor will be a life giving fragrance to all you influence.
For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other; the fragrance of life. 2 Corinthians 2:15-16
Prayer: Heavenly Father, fuel my faith with your Holy Spirit, so my life burns bright for You.
Related Readings: Psalms 119:139; Proverbs 19:2; John 2:17; Ephesians 4:18-20; Philippians 3:6
Post/Tweet today: You are combustible for Christ when the Holy Spirit ignites your heart with God’s truth. #spiritualfervor
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© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.
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Thank you Boyd,
I needed to read this today.
God bless you,
Katie
Thank you for an in depth explanation of spiritual fervor. I LOVE THE ANALOGIES.