Finding the Right Balance

I was trying to do something on my computer that required a number of steps to accomplish. I had started the process earlier than normal, so I was feeling good about things. I went to bed quite content. The next day, I thought I was on the last step and so I only allowed a short amount of time to complete the project only to find out I had missed the longest and hardest part of the conversion. I ended up running out of time and had to complete it later than I had planned. Best plans don’t always work as we want them to. I jumped the gun and threw everything off in my schedule. I got to thinking about people sharing their faith. It seems, so often, that the new believer truly gets on fire for the Lord and wants to tell everyone. In their excitement, sometimes they dig a hole for themselves because they don’t have much of a background. I do love the passion of the new believer though. Sadly, on the other side, is the believer that has studied or been around the word long enough that they seem to know what might be good to say, but it often seems to lack that zeal of the new believer. We have to keep encouraging one another so that we are always aware of the incredible message that has been entrusted to us. Romans 12 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” There are also those that can be very vocal about their faith, but much of it comes from religious things that they heard and not found in God’s word. Paul speaks about many of the Jews that didn’t believe Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. He said in Romans 10, “For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.” If our zeal comes from movies, books, patterned after the world, or from other religions, what we say could be very dangerous. If, however, our zeal comes from the Holy Spirit that leads us to know and declare the truth of God’s word, then God will bless what is done. Know that God alone can give someone that faith... we simply lead them to the living water. Instead of being concerned if we might say the wrong thing, let us grow deeper in our understanding of God’s word and become more intimate with God through prayer. Lord, give us wisdom, teach us Your word, give us a passion for lost souls, and use us to declare Your praise. Amen