Colossians 3:15-25 "And let the peace of GOD rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the WORD of CHRIST dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the LORD. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD and the FATHER by HIM. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the LORD. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the LORD. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing GOD: and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the LORD, and not unto men; knowing that of the LORD ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the LORD CHRIST. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons."
Believers are to serve the LORD with enthusiasm, eagerness, excitement, passion, fervency, wholeheartedness, exuberance, and zeal. Yet how often do we find our service to be lukewarm, complacent, lackadaisical, sluggish, halfhearted, and spiritless ? The command is clear: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the LORD, and not unto men" (v.23). "Heartily" literally means "from the soul." We should put our whole soul into it ! Each new day of serving the LORD should be an exciting adventure as we learn what GOD has in store for us. We are to be "fervent in spirit; serving the LORD" (Romans 12:11 pictured above). The word "fervent" comes from a verb meaning "to boil, seethe." Spiritually, we should be on fire for the LORD, fired up, boiling, zealous, glowing ! GOD wants us to be hot, to have a godly enthusiasm and excitement for the things of the LORD. As the hymn says: "May each soul be rekindled with fire from above !"
Apollos was a great example of such a person: "mighty in Scriptures" and "fervent in the spirit" (Acts 18:24-25). Epaphras had an exuberant prayer life: "always laboring fervently . . . in prayers" (Colossians 4:12 pictured above). How many of us would have to admit to an ineffective prayer life due to laziness and neglect ? The household of Stephanas "addicted themselves to the ministry (service) of the saints" (1st.Corinthians 16:15) -- what a wonderful habit ! "For the love of CHRIST constraineth us . . . HE died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto HIM which died for them, and rose again" (2nd.Corinthians 5:14-15). How can we not but have a godly and zealous enthusiasm to serve the ONE WHO died for us and rose again from the grave ? GWZ
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
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