Study of Romans 12 – Verse 11

    How are you doing, spiritually?

    Pause for a moment and consider: in comparison to how you were one year ago, five years ago, how are you doing?

Are you a more willing sacrifice, or are you growing irritated by ‘all you have to give up,’ ‘all you have to do’?

Have you continued to renew your mind through study and obedience, or have other interests got in the way?

Are you transformed (changed for the better - more like the Lord and less like the world), or has conformity kept you from the treasures found only in God and Jesus (Colossians 2:2-3)?

Are you using the abilities you have been blessed with to serve God and the church, or have you buried them to keep others from expecting too much from you?  

Has your love (for God, your brethren, your neighbour) improved, or grown cold (only words and no deeds)?

Are you better able to discern good from evil (Hebrews 5:14), or has your abhorrence for what is evil faded to a mild dislike and toleration?

Are you growing stronger in clinging to good, or has your clasp loosened and your attention focused elsewhere?

Has your affection for your brethren deepened, or dissipated? Have you sought out their best interests, or are you only seeking after your own?

    These are questions that are good to ask ourselves, often.  Am I fervent in my spirit in serving the Lord, or am I lagging in diligence?

“…not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord…” (Romans 12:11 NKJV)

“…not lagging in diligence…”

    Lagging (Strong’s Greek #3636 ‘okneros’) means slothful, hesitating, sluggish toward spiritual duties. It is a reluctance and an unwillingness to act promptly or with energy.

    Diligence (Strong’s Greek #4710 ‘spoude’) means earnestness, zeal, and effort in fulfilling a task or duty, earnestness in accomplishing or striving after something. Consider 2 Corinthians 7:11-12 (“what diligence… what vehement desire”), 2 Corinthians 8:7 (“abound in all diligence”), Romans 12:8 (“he who leads, with diligence”), and 2 Peter 1:5-11 (“giving all diligence… be even more diligent”).

 “…fervent in spirit…”

    Fervent (Strong’s Greek #2204 ‘zeo’) means to boil, to be hot, have intense passion, eagerness in one’s faith and spiritual life. Apollos was described as being “fervent in spirit” in Acts 18:25; a man who spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord.

    In spirit (Strong’s Greek #4151 ‘pneuma’) means being motivated in or by our spirit; the vital principle in which the body is animated. In other words: be eager in your motivation, have a readiness to obey God (and to respond to another’s need).

    Where are we not to lag in diligence and where are we to be motivated from the very core of our being to do what is needed? In serving the Lord.

    How do we keep ourselves from lagging in diligence and how are we to remain motivated from the very core of our being to do what is needed?  By serving the Lord.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him… And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for your serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:17, 23-24 NKJV)

    Nothing is as fulfilling as doing what God has given us to do – to be a help to others and grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18). These benefit us mentally/emotionally, physically, and, of course, spiritually; it is the most satisfying way to use our time and abilities!

    Are you serving the Lord with a fervent spirit – motivated to do all that is asked of you? What He asks of us is not too much – it is for our good always (Deuteronomy 6:24-25).

    Are you diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15)?

“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises…. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil...” (Hebrews 6:11-12, 19 NJKV)

    Look to God for motivation – you will find it! His promises are real – trust Him! His word is glorious, life-changing and life-bettering – look to it daily for instruction and for examples of those who lived and served with diligence and fervent spirits; let these motivate you toward doing your part so that you, too, can be an example to those around you of one who does not lag in diligence, but who is fervent in spirit, serving the Lord!  

You can do it! So can I!!