Ruminating on ROMANS! (Some Thoughts on Paul’s Great Epistle) #37 “Critical Imperatives for the Christ-Follower” (A Study of Romans 12) Part 9

Many of you know that my New Jersey friend Frank and I are reading through God’s Word together (described here). We’re now in the book of Romans and are reading chapter 12 each day this week.I count 24 injunctions or commands or imperatives for the believer here in Romans 12. I’m aware that the expression “critical imperative” is redundant, but I think it’s useful for what we see here in this great chapter. Let’s continue our multipart study by looking at verse 11.

We’ve seen that the believer is to offer his body as a living sacrifice, not to conform to the pattern of this world, to be transformed by the renewing of his mind, to think of himself with sober judgment, to use his gifts to build up the body of Christ, to hate as God hates, to be devoted to the body in love, and to honor one another beyond yourselves!

The ninth critical imperative is —9. Believers are TO KEEP THEIR SPIRITUAL FERVOR AND ZEAL! (v. 11)

We live in a world of zeal-killers! We do. We are plagued by entertainment media which numbs our minds and dulls our energies. We are, often because of our own choices, anesthetized to our purpose on planet earth. We fail to keep the main thing the main thing. And we Christians are frequently emotionless, passion-less, and lethargic when it comes to the people of God. Now, aren’t you glad you’ve read my post this morning?

What’s the answer? Keep your spiritual fervor! Why? Because we serve the Lord God of the universe! We have every reason to seize every day with godly enthusiasm and purpose. But we choose to keep or not keep our spiritual fervor.

Today’s Challenge: What is the reading, right now, on your spiritual fervor gauge? The word “enthusiasm” literally means “in God.” Are you?