As I looked through some things I wrote a few years ago, I found this quote by Elizabeth George. “A godly mother is one who loves the Lord her God with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength, and then passionately, consistently, and unrelentingly teaches her children to do the same.” What a different world it would be if all mothers who claim the name of Christ took this as their daily goal. Far too often we say one thing but project another, with our actions. Kids see right through that and usually repeat our actions. We should all have the goal to be genuine, excited, passionate, unrelenting, and consistent in our walk with God. All who name the name of Christ should have this desire, not just Moms!
What are you passionate about? To be passionate is to show strong feelings or beliefs in, or, for something. Our walk with God should be intense, fervent, heartfelt, eager, and exciting. Is this what comes across from you about your faith? Think about your favorite sport do you get as excited about the things of God as you do about your team scoring? Maybe you’re not a sports fanatic, but you love getting gifts or going to see family. Now, measure your excitement.
David was excited when he saw the giving of the people for the building of the temple in I Chronicles 29:9. The people were excited, David was excited, and all of them praised the Lord. Read these three verses and you will get a sense of how we should feel about giving.
1 Chronicles 29:9-11 “Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.”
In Acts 16:22-25, Paul and Silas were beaten, cast into prison, and were bound by chains. This would seem to us a valid reason to be discouraged, depressed, or a grand opportunity to wallow in self-pity. However, that is not the response of Paul and Silas. Look at verse 25, they were singing praises to God, so loud the other prisoners heard them. They were consistently doing what was right. The circumstances did not determine their actions.
Act 16:25 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them”
Paul and Silas not only had a good attitude, but their testimony was elevated when they chose to stay instead of run. After the earthquake their chains fell off, but they protected the guard by not leaving. They were his responsibility, and their leaving would mean death for the guard. By staying, they were able to lead the guard and his family to the Lord. See how your praise and excitement for Christ can influence others.
There was no doubt about what excited Paul and Silas. They were passionate, consistent, and unrelenting in their desire to serve God. Their excitement stirred others and gave them a reason to be even more excited! Nothing is more exciting than the salvation of others.
In Luke 18:43, there is great excitement over the healing of a blind man. It wasn’t just the joy of a man being able to see, it was an excitement that glorified God. His excitement was so great that all the people gave praise to God.
Luke 18:43 “And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”
Our excitement for Christ should govern our actions. It should be so strong that it is contagious. Our praise should never be diminished because of our circumstances. Hard times will come, bad things will happen, but God is still God, and He is still in control. He will not leave us or forsake us. I’m sure Paul and Silas were in pain from the beating they had received, but it didn’t control their actions. Even in our pain and distress, our attitude should be to honor and praise God. We should be passionate, relentless, and consistent. He is worthy, and we know the bad circumstances will not last forever. There is an eternity waiting where we will never have pain or sorrow. That is where our focus must stay.
Heaven was purchased for us by the death of the Redeemer. When that truth is ingrained in our heart nothing can come against us and keep us from praising our God. Others will see it, and we will influence others around us. We have the “earnest,” a pledge, a promise, that is sealed by the Holy Spirit, that lives within us until we enter Heaven.
Ephesians 1:14 “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
Are you excited about your relationship with Jesus? If you don’t feel the way that Paul, Silas, or David, felt you need to ask God to forgive you. If you are not excited it is not God’s fault. He has provided His word, his love letter to us, He has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, and He has given His Son to die for us. He has done everything for us now and forevermore. When you meditate on these things you can’t help but be excited and real excitement will be seen by others around you.
