Give it all you got!

Servanthood could be considered the ultimate hallmark of the Christian life.  Jesus' life was all about service.  He even said . . .the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve . . . (Matthew 20:28)  If Christlikeness is our goal then living a life of service has to be a priority for us.

The 12th chapter of Romans, which we are continuing to examine, is all about service.  It begins in verse one with:

Therefore, I urge you , brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship.  (12:1, NIV)

In the New King James the last phrase in verse one reads, which is your reasonable service.  This verse is simply saying that based upon the mercy God has shown us it is only reasonable that we respond to Him ready to serve as He directs.  The Apostle Paul often refers to himself as the "slave" or "bondservant" of Christ, relegating himself to a position of complete submission before the Lord.  Considering how Jesus had saved him from the sins he had committed and restored him to a right relationship with God, Paul had no qualms about giving his life completely to Him, even if it meant death.

I pick up today with verse 11 of the 12th chapter in my recent series of posts on living like a Christian.  Verses 9 through 21 are a string of exhortations by Paul to believers giving them various actions and attitudes which are consistent with a life lived in service of the Lord.  Verse 11 tells us:

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

The first part of this verse is sometimes translated "don't be slothful" or "be diligent".  It gives the idea that Christians are to be industrious, not wasting time on pursuits that really don't accomplish much and don't bring glory to God.  I think that most of us would have to admit that many of our activities aren't profitable uses of our time.  One main thing comes to mind (or should I say numbs it) . . . television.  The "idiot box" as it is sometimes refered to can be a total waste of time.  Oh, there are some good things to watch (when you search hard for it) but most of the programming is a waste, if not even harmful.  Today, the internet rivals the television in this category.  However, it can be used for good! 

One of the reasons I write this blog is to hopefully capture the minds of other, if just for a moment, in order to encourage a deeper level of thought (and maybe commitment).  Writing also "redeems the time" for me.

Paul goes on to exhort believers to keep your spiritual fervor.  This word "fervor" or "fervent" pictures the boiling or bubbling of water or metals.  It is referring to an intensity or a glow.  A Christian's life should be lived with an intensity for serving God.  Our lives should glow with a zeal for obeying and serving the King of kings and Lord of lords, the One who through His mercy gave us eternal life.  Our lives can be lived doing a lot of things, but the greatest pursuit we can engage in is to bring honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Quite literally, that is what we were created for!