Daily Thought for Wednesday, May 11th

May 11, 2011

Zeal – Does it Enthuse You

 

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

-  Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Today’s Thought:

“What hunger is in relation to food, zeal is in relation to life.” – Bertrand Russell

Today’s Question

Were you aware that; “Enthusiasm extinguishes the gloom in a room?” – Frank Tyger

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Enthusiasm signifies God in us.”

- Mme De Stael

“But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing,...”

- The Bible (Galatians 4:18)

What exactly is zeal?  According to Nathaniel Webster, “Zeal is to be eager, having a great interest with much enthusiasm.”  He says being zealous is, “to be characterized by showing zeal or enthusiasm.”  In short to have zeal means you are excited, jubilant, enthusiastic and maybe even over the top about something or someone.

Christians should be zealous zealots when it comes to faith, God and the things of His kingdom.  But sadly most churches seem to be filled with folks who look like they lost their last friend forty times over and they often act is if they are just to pooped to even attempt to be peppy.

Vince Lombardi said, “If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you’ll be fired with enthusiasm.”  Now God doesn’t go around firing His children for lack of spirit and joy, but do you wonder if He ever wants to?

Malcolm Forbes said, “Men who don’t get carried away should be.”

Don’t you think it is about time we Christians who serve the greatest God, who have the best retirement plan and who are endowed with the greatest possibilities in life, should show a little enthusiasm and have a little more than just a little zeal?

“Duty without enthusiasm becomes laborious; duty with enthusiasm becomes glorious.” – William Arthur Ward

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, “Enthusiasm begets enthusiasm.”

Maybe if we, individually, would show a little more zest, zeal and enthusiasm about who we are in Christ and the hope that we have because of Him, it might start to catch on with our brothers and sisters and before you know it we might effectively change the world.

“A wise man once said that enthusiasm is nothing but faith with a tin can tied to its tail.”  - Unknown

So are you willing to be feet to your faith; voice to your joy: physically discernable actions to your life for the Lord?  Does the idea of having zeal and being enthusiastic for the Lord, excite you?   If it doesn’t, it should and if it doesn’t then maybe you need to re-examine your relationship with the Lord.  To know Him is to love Him:  To love Him is to want to live for Him:  To live for Him is to let the world know that you are His.

Today’s Verses:

Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:3-6

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

                        Jeremiah 29:13

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

                        1 Corinthians 14:12

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may my zeal make me more real in showing the world just how honored, excited and overjoyed I am to be your child.