Daily Thought for Monday, July 18th

July 18, 2011

Extreme Enthusiasm

Today’s Thought:

“Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money and power and influence.” – Henry Chester

Today’s Quotes:

“In things pertaining to enthusiasm, no man is sane who does not know how to be insane on proper occasions.” – Henry Ward Beecher

 

Today’s Question

Have you ever stopped to consider that: “The worst bankrupt in the world is the man who has lost his enthusiasm?” – H. W. Arnold

Today’s Bible Verses:                  2 Samuel 6:16-22

And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.  And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house. Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!  And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“ The simplest man, fired with enthusiasm, is more persuasive than the most elequent man without it.” – Franklin Field

For a society that leans toward and even celebrates extremisms; when it comes to faith, expressions of praise and lives of worship it seems extreme is not the order of the day, especially where enthusiasm is concerned.

So many of God’s people seem to be able to sit through a praise service with scowls, expressions of disdain and attitudes that imply they are bored out of their minds.

Have you ever wondered what would happen in the local church if David showed up and danced before the Lord the way he did in the passage above?  I’m sure he would be escorted out of the service; the local authorities would be called; and he would be locked up for a long time.  And of course it would not be prudent to dance in undergarments or nearly naked in public as an expression of enthusiasm for the Lord in our day and time; but, if we would embrace the attitude, the excitement, the sheer joy and jubilation that David felt and we would release it within our spirits and find acceptable ways to express it that would not be immoral or unethical, I’m sure the energy in church services would improve and the duration of the time they lasted would cease to be an issue.

The point I’m trying to make here is that we need to show some enthusiasm when it comes to our praise and worship for the Lord.

We need to stop acting like it is a drudgery to be endured and we need to embrace it as an opportunity that is not only an honor but also a privilege. 

Bronson Alcott wrote, “Enthusiasm is the glory and hope of the world.”

Isn’t it time that Christians became extremely enthusiastic about the things of God?

Maybe it’s time to let our hair down, figuratively speaking: time to step outside a box of comfort and conformity:  time to let go and let our actions speak and our voices be heard, so that all who see us and hear us would know we are extremely enthusiastic about our love for our Lord.

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I be radically enthusiastic and extremely committed to letting the world know how much I love you and how much you mean to me.