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Today, we are back to our series on Romans 12:9-21. This post is on verse 11 and is written by Wayne Gaines of M300 Ministries. I hope you will stop by and visit his website, M300 Ministries.org. He is doing marvelous work for the Lord around the world. I am so happy to bring you Wayne’s guest post…

Standing Strong in the Lord

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your
spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
(Romans 12:11 NIV)

As we consider “Behaving like Christians,” let us consider this single, short verse in Romans 12:11. It seems straightforward and simple right? If we lack zeal and spiritual fervor while serving the Lord, we are taking a chance that we won’t be pleasing unto Him. If we lack zeal for the things of God while serving Him then we become easily entangled and imprisoned by the hindrances that so easily beset us.

The Apostle Paul was a very zealous servant of the Lord, yet the Lord Himself had these words for the newly named Paul, “But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.’” (Acts 9:15-16 NIV)

Sometimes, when we suffer, we begin to lack zeal and spiritual fervor. The Lord uses the Apostle Paul as an example of how we are to endure suffering as “good soldiers.” A good soldier is taught that suffering is part of the process of serving. When a good soldier suffers, his zeal is kicked in high gear. When a good soldier suffers, his spiritual fervor is elevated while serving the Lord.

There is a little known and little talked about secret that is known fully by those who suffer for the name of Jesus. At M300 Ministries, we are called to work in the hardest to reach places on earth and with men who go at the risk of their own blood. These men, called Valiant Warriors, have revealed their secret to not being found lacking in zeal and spiritual fervor while serving the Lord. It may surprise you to find that it is all summed up in a single powerful word…GRACE.

Yes, I know this is not normally what your Sunday school teacher would teach you about grace and it may not be what you would learn about grace from your pastor or minister who may not have had an occasion to suffer for the name of Jesus. The grace I am going to share with you is what is learned from those who have been beaten, maligned, kicked, and imprisoned because they dared to name the name of Jesus or to preach the Good News to the lost.

“Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power forever and ever.” (1 Peter 5:9-11 NIV) Amen.

We are called to resist the devil by the name of Jesus and to stand firm in the faith. We are reminded that our brothers around the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. Hold on tight now for verse 10 that says that “the God of all grace... after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

Do you know the God of grace in this way? Yes, we serve a God of this kind of grace that restores, makes strong, firm, and steadfast. This is the grace that helps us to persevere and triumph over the enemy. This grace comes not from us but from the God of grace. Remember the Apostle Paul prayed for a thorn in the flesh to be removed yet it was not because God said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

God’s grace is sufficient to help us in our hour of trial, suffering, distress and disease. God’s grace is sufficient in all things so allow me to encourage you with Romans 12:11, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Learn to rely on the God of grace who can restore, make strong, firm, and steadfast.
For more thoughts on this subject, visit my site.