DAY 107
Fervent in Spirit, Serving the Lord
SCRIPTURE PASSAGE:
Romans 12:3-11
MEMORY VERSE:
Romans 12:10-11 Be kindly affectioned one to another with
brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving
the Lord.
We tend to evaluate others by our own set of circumstances or skills. Our children once had a
chemistry teacher in high school that was exceedingly frustrating. The students would ask a legitimate
question in class, but rather than giving a clear answer, her standard reply was, “Oh, it’s so easy!” To
her, it was! To the class, it was not! Ask me a question about sentence structure or correct grammar,
and I’ll give you an educated answer. Ask me about calculus or algebra, and I’ll shrug my shoulders in
ignorance! Few, if any, are skilled in every single area of intelligence. We are all shallow thinkers, just
in different areas. Be careful not to be critical or demeaning of another who does not possess your
particular gift or talent.
My father only went to school through the sixth grade, common for boys back in the early 1900’s. He
may not have been able to diagram a sentence or conjugate a verb, but he could speak two languages
fluently (his native tongue Swiss as well as English). He could build barns, repair machinery, and
upholster furniture. He knew the science of agriculture––what to plant where and when. He
understood how to raise cows, sheep, hogs, chickens, and a variety of other farm animals. He read
extensively and knew His Bible well. He was brilliant! How could one dare be critical of his lack of verb
conjugation? Our passage today says clearly that we are to prefer one another. That places me under
another person. It requires humility on my part. It means I put aside the lofty opinion I have of myself
and see a situation from another’s viewpoint. The adage “Don’t criticize another until you’ve walked a
mile in that person’s shoes” is applicable here.
The moment we were saved, the Holy Spirit came into our lives and brought to each one of us a
special spiritual gift to be used for God’s glory. Your gift is different from my gift, but both are equally
valuable in God’s sight. Some gifts may be more obvious that others. For example, the one who rules
would probably be noticed more than the one who gives, but God hath set the members every one
of them in the Body as it hath pleased Him (I Corinthians 12:18). The passage in I Corinthians 12:1231 compares the spiritual gifts given to believers in the Body of Christ to the physical members of our
bodies––eyes, ears, hands, feet, etc. All of our physical members are useful. All of the members in
God’s Body are useful! Now ye are the Body of Christ, and members in particular (verse 27). God has
given all believers gifts as it hath pleased Him. Have you willingly accepted God’s spiritual gift to you?
Are you using it? We cannot be too small for God to use, but we can be too big! Do not IGNORE the
gift God has given you nor be PROUD of the gift God has given you. Humbly use your gift for the Lord
and give Him the glory, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
DIGGING DEEPER
DAY 107
God gives us gifts for service, not for status! All we do must be done to the glory of God. Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God
(I Corinthians 10:31).
Whatever our gift––whether in the background or in the limelight––the formula in pleasing God does
not change: do all to the glory of God! Matthew 25:14-30 is the parable of the talents. Three servants
were each given talents to every man according to his several ability. One servant was given five
talents (whether money, opportunity, or skill is not really the issue!) The servant increased his talents
by gaining five more. The second servant was given two talents, and he also used his talents to gain
two more. The servant that was given one talent, however, did nothing but bury it. He made no
attempt to use it. He was said to be wicked, slothful, and unprofitable. The Lord said to the first two
servants, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will
make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord (verses 23, 21). Both of these
servants were commended in the same way and given the same reward even though the quantity of
their talents was different. They made good use of what they had been given! God is looking for
faithfulness! It is a probing question: are we using what the Lord has entrusted to us?
Scripture has much to say about attitudes of both humility and pride. We are told to serve humbly
and fervently with our whole hearts. Ponder the following verses as you look them up. Match the
references to the portion of the verse given. Place the correct letter on the line.
1. _____ Surely ... He giveth grace unto the lowly.
A. I Chronicles 28:9
2. _____ ...serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
B. James 4:10
3. _____ ...ye turned to God ... to serve the living and true God.
C. Joshua 24:14
4. _____ Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth. D. John 12:26
5. _____ ...do it heartily as to the Lord...ye serve the Lord Christ. E. Proverbs 27:2
6. _____ ...serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind. F. Proverbs 3:34
7. _____ If any man serve Me, let him follow Me.
G. Colossians 3:23-24
8. _____ ...doing the will of God from the heart, as to the Lord. H. Deuteronomy 11:13
9. _____ ...God resisteth the proud...giveth grace to the humble.
I. Ephesians 6:6-7
10. _____ ...take diligent heed...to serve Him with all your heart...
J. I Peter 5:5-6
11. _____ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord.
K. I Thessalonians 1:9
12. _____ Fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth.
L. Joshua 22:5