FAN THE FIRES OF FIRST LOVE

by Tammy Phillips
September 15, 202

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. (Romans 12:11 KJV)

I remember when I first fell in love with my hubby, Kris.  Do you remember that first love feeling?   You could not wait to see, talk and be around your new love.  Sparks and passion were flying. You could not get enough. The fire was burning hot and you would do anything to please your partner.  Even now, we call it, “warm fuzzies!”  I have discovered this to be the meaning behind Romans 12:11.

How do I know?  When a verse pricks your spirit, but you do not know exactly why, it is time to go digging!   It is like a treasure hunt.  Looking at this verse, some of the words did not make sense. It was time to unlock the riches of the word by looking at the Greek Definitions:

Slothful: okernos, meaning, lagging, lazy, idle, from okneo: to hesitate, be slow, delay.   The word apathetic and an “I don’t care” attitude come s to mind.

Business: spoudazdo, which means zeal, diligence, eagerness, haste, striving after, earnest carefulness. From the word speudo meaning to speed

Fervent: zeo, meaning to be hot; to Boil in liquids and to glow in case of a solids

Serving: douleuo, which means: one who gives himself up to another’s will ; devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests; total obedience, and bound to.

This verse is a treasure trove!  When all the rich substance of the words are combined, it could read like this:

DO NOT BE SLOTHFUL IN BUSINESS
Be diligent. Do not be negligent.
Be zealous. Do not be apathetic.
Be eager. Do not be lazy.
Be speedy. Do not hesitate or be slow.
Be caring. Do not be carless.
Be attentive. Do not be absent-minded.

BE FERVENT IN SPIRIT.
(Remember that first love feeling)
Be continuously boiling.
Be glowing.
Be hot.
Be on fire.

SERVING THE LORD
Surrendered to the Lord’s will
Devoted to the Lord.
Totally committed.
Total obedience to the Lord.
Bound to the Lord.
Do whatever is needed.
SOLD OUT.

I encourage you to be a Fire-place and “to fan into flame the gift of God…For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV) So, “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.“ (Colossians 3:17 NIV) We have to stay hot, boiling and on fire  for the Lord.  Whatever we do, we need to make Him look good so that we draw others to Him.  We need to build up the name of Jesus in all that we do. We need to brag on our Man by our very actions.