DOES ENTHUSIASM HAVE A PLACE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
The LORD said to Moses, “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron,
the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was
as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to
them in my zeal.
(Numbers 25:10-11)

MEDITATION:
Enthusiasm is an emotion that we see in some people quite often. There are
times when most of us have shown enthusiasm. It could be a sporting event,
watching a child or friend performing in some way, the success of someone
in some competitive event, etc.

The dictionary defines enthusiasm as:
    Strong excitement about something; a strong feeling of active interest
    in something that you like or enjoy; something causing a feeling of
    excitement and active interest.

We see displays of enthusiasm at sporting events, stage performances,
concerts, recitals, and movies, just to name a few. However, it’s kind of
interesting that the world accepts enthusiasm in almost every situation
except for the spiritual realm. For some reason, some people are skeptical
when they see someone showing enthusiasm about worshipping the Lord.

When we show enthusiasm regarding our dedication and appreciation of
Jesus, some who are slanted toward worldly values, consider us as religious
fanatics. Calling someone a ‘sports fanatic’ is meant as a compliment, but
calling someone a ‘religious fanatic’ is considered a putdown. In other words,
some worldly people have decided that we have exceeded the boundaries of
spirituality when we show enthusiasm about worshipping and serving the Lord.

The lack of enthusiasm could be the reason why some people have chosen
to stay away from the church, and why others stop attending worship. If
others fail to see any enthusiasm from believers about what they believe,
it could cause them to have a lack of interest in attending church, learning
about the Lord or becoming a follower of Jesus themselves.

So, a question some people have is,
    “Is enthusiasm out of place in the spiritual realm?”
Of course not! We can see how God responded to the to the enthusiasm
(‘zealous’) of Phinehas regarding God’s honor. The enthusiasm of one
man resulted caused God to withhold His wrath which would mean the
the death of many people. That gives us an idea of what God thinks about
enthusiasm in followers of Jesus, doesn’t it?

ACTION:
Questions to consider”
    – How much enthusiasm do I have regarding my relationship with the Lord?
    – Can others detect my zeal for the Lord?
    – Do I look forward to worshipping with other believers, or do I consider
       attending church as just another event on my task list for the week?
    – Does my attitude about my relationship with the Lord cause others
       to want to worship Him as well, or does it push them away and they
       become attracted to worldly things instead.
    – Do I realize how much influence I can have on others with my joy
       and commitment to the Lord?
    – Am I causing others to believe that a relationship with the Lord is
       dull, boring and lacking excitement?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me for using my enthusiasm on many
other things but failing to show it regarding You. Teach me to be
less inhibited about my zeal for You. Show me the changes I need
to make in my life so others will sense my zest for You. I want all
to know beyond a shadow of a doubt how important You are to me
and my life. Convict me of any decisions I have made regarding my
relationship with You and other believers, that are contrary to what
You expect of those who belong to You. I love You and want others
to know how much I love You!”

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