The Transformed Attitude

The Transformed Attitude
Words of Faith 11-10-2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Romans 12
      [11] Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. [12] Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.


      Attitudes make all the difference. What are the attitudes that mark the transformed life? Paul describes the transformed life this way: Never lacking in zeal but keeping spiritual fervor serving the Lord-- joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
      Zeal means enthusiasm. It is related to the word for "boil." Paul encourages us to never lack in enthusiastic eagerness that boils. Put another way, "Don't become lazy in your diligence for the Lord, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord."  
      Have you ever noticed that there is a point where enthusiasm goes overboard? There is a point where we "boil" for the Lord a little too much and suddenly we are not boiling for the Lord at all. What is that point? It is the point at which our fervor does not serve the Lord and what He is doing.  
     Sometimes spiritual enthusiasm becomes self-serving. Sometimes our enthusiasm becomes a sort of "spiritual exhibitionism" or a spiritual one-up-man-ship. How can we know the difference so that our attitude can be right?
     The basic questions are rather simple. When we feel the zeal of the Spirit, we might ask: Does this enthusiasm give glory to God or to me? Does this energy draw attention to Jesus or to me? Does this activity draw people to Jesus or to me? We must never forget that our primary job is to get out of the way so that Jesus may be seen and revealed.
      Living out the attitudes of the transformed life is actually rather subtle. "Be joyful in hope." The transformed life is not a loud exhibit but a quiet one. Joy is quietly expressed amid difficulty and adversity. The transformed life holds onto hope even when things are bleak. "Be patient in affliction." The transformed life allows God to be at work not only in times of blessing but quietly in our affliction. Be "faithful in prayer." The life transformed will have conversations different from the world. More of our talking will be directed to God rather than people.
      How is your attitude? Only He can transform you and your attitudes.

       Lord, give me enthusiasm that honors and serves You. Give me joyful hope, patience in affliction, and faithful times of prayer. In Jesus' name.   

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2021 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.