Verse of the Day - Romans 12:11

Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. ~ Romans 12:11 (NLT)

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Okay, I admit it...I don't want to go to work today! I've been on vacation for four days, and although I should feel rested and ready to tackle the world, I don't. Not really. I mean, I'm sure I'll get back in the groove, but it's the getting back that's hard. Know what I mean?

And when we are believers in Jesus Christ, everywhere we go, we're serving Him, be that at our 9-to-5, at school, on the PTA, wherever. So how do we keep up our enthusiasm, our "fervor", as the NIV says it? And why is this enthusiasm important?

Let me liken this to sales. How many times have you seen or heard a sales pitch that sounded like one long, monotonous drone? The sales person looks completely disinterested and unconvinced of his own words. If he has confidence in his product, you would never know it. He's probably never tried it, and never will. Doesn't care -- it's just a job. His life has just not been changed by this product. He has no real faith in it, because he hasn't put it to the test and found it true and helpful. And because he has no genuine excitement over what this product has done and can do, no one is going to listen to him.

If we lose sight of our spiritual dimension with God, if we don't use our "product"...that is, if we neglect our relationship with Him..., if we fail to grasp how pitiful life is without God and how amazingly rich life is with God, we can become like that monotonous sales person. Who in their right mind is going to listen to you talk about "abundant life" and "joy to the full" when you act as if you couldn't be more bored and disinterested? In fact, you won't be telling anyone about it at all. It makes no sense to talk about something that is lifeless and ineffective. Throw out the gospel...let's talk about something really interesting! Hey, did you see that game on TV last night?!? Wasn't that catch in the 7th inning amazing?!?

Have you been changed by the power of God? If so, then you should be excited about that! If you aren't, then ask your Heavenly Father to stir up the embers in your spirit and fan into flame the zeal for the Lord that has gone cold and stale. We're not selling toilet bowl brushes here, folks! We're sharing the truth of the living God Who has made Himself available to all who will believe and choose Him. That is amazing! That is exciting! That is life-changing!

I preach to myself here. We all get lulled by the work-a-day world, buried under a sea of deadlines and piles of papers and customers. Oh Lord, help us keep our #1 priority of living for You on the front burner. Help us know by experience what it's like to live day by day with the presence of the Almighty God within our spirits. Forgive us when we've viewed our relationship with you with the excitement of selling toilet bowl brushes...

Love,
Joelene