Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (Romans 12:11)
My first assignment on active duty was with a tactical signal unit. Whether deployed or training, at the core of our Tactical Operations Center was a 60K generator. This huge noisy dynamo generated the power to run all the necessary equipment. It’s one flaw was that it required gasoline, and lots of it. Once and awhile the soldier assigned to check on the fuel would neglect that duty, and the generator would run dry. The silence was deafening, the vital equipment it supported could not work, and we could not conduct our mission. Not a good thing for a signal unit, and even worse for a Christian.
In this verse, the Apostle Paul is giving us an important lawful order. He tells us not to be lazy in living out our Christian faith, and to serve the Lord. We are to ensure that we are constantly filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, and with the joy of the Lord. We are not to neglect the ‘generator’ of our faith and let it run dry. The word ‘zeal’ means to have energy or enthusiasm as you pursue something.
If Paul were to give you a spiritual evaluation report right now, what would he say about how well you are serving the Lord?
What steps are you taking to keep your ‘spiritual generator’ running at peak efficiency?
My Lord and my God, forgive me if I have become lazy in my service to you. Revive the passion of my faith that others may see You in me. Amen.
