Never Be Lacking in Zeal

Romans 12:11

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Baseball season is only 8-9 days away. Carolyn and I had a wonderful time attending three spring training games for the Orioles earlier this month. The team is young and exciting to watch. They won 101 games last year and we have high hopes for them to win 95+ again this year. The fans at spring training were excited and cheering for their team. A man next to us in the stands one game was really friendly and excited for the upcoming season. NO ONE had to pump up the fans – they were excited and had loads of zeal.

Gone are the days (at least for a few seasons) when we might worry about losing 100 games or even coming in last place in our division. The future looks bright and we have a lot to be thankful for in the coming years. For three straight years – we have had the #1 minor league player and might have a 4th year next year. Let’s fill Oriole Park at Camden Yards this year. With new ownership and an increased gate – we might even be able to sign some of our young players to a second contract to keep them around!

Sunday – I was worried about the message. I had posted that I was struggling to put it together. It had been written and re-written – several times. I began the service by apologizing to the video team and the congregation – and prayed for the Holy Spirit to give me words to speak. I felt prayers and support as we worked through a message titled – Making Tough Decisions (you can hear the message here). So far the comments have been very uplifting and I felt the Holy Spirit amongst us. I was pumped and hope my zeal for the Lord was evident.

Zeal is something we have for things we are excited about. Here’s a definition I found online for zeal or being zealous – someone who is zealous spends a lot of time or energy in supporting something that they believe in very strongly, especially a political or religious ideal.

Here’s today’s passage in partial context. Romans 12:9–21 – ⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”  says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I love this passage – and the challenge to never be lacking in zeal for the Lord! We’re called to keep our spiritual fervor and serve the Lord with joyful hope. Let’s never stop loving Jesus and serving Him.

Just something for us to think about today as we go on our way!