Devotion #3: Overflowing Toward Others
“Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” Romans 12:11-13 (NKJV)
Romans 12:11 really begins in verse 10 with the words, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love.” What follows is some of the ways we, as His people, can love “one another.” The first words of verse 11 are in the negative. We are told what not to do. The words “not lagging in diligence” in modern terms would be, “Do not be lazy about this!” The command is against indifference and lethargy towards the needs of others. As His people, we are to be the opposite of lazy and indifferent towards the Lord and others, especially towards the needs of others.
We are, instead, to be “fervent in spirit.” These are words that mean we are looking for ways to bless our King and help others. The word “fervent” means “to boil over or bubble over,” and it describes what happens when we put heat to water. The heat causes the water to stir and boil and finally bubble over. This translates this way: as the love of the Lord affects us, it stirs us and moves us into action towards Him and others. His love and kindness towards us is the flame that sets the hearts of His people to boil. We become fervent in our love for Him and for others because of His love for us.
This is why the next words are “serving the Lord.” This fervent overflow is the only way to serve the Lord. It means to serve Him as a response to His goodness, kindness, and love towards us. This will push us to be “rejoicing in hope” that we have in Him. His love for us will make us “patient in tribulation” (extremely difficult). His kindness and grace toward us make us steadfast in prayer. As He has so deeply met our needs, we overflow by “distributing to the needs of the saints.”
If we are lacking in these things, may we take a step back and look at what Jesus Christ did on the cross for us. We must let His love for us deeply affect us; then, we will overflow to others. Then we serve. Then we give. Then we help. Then we Reach, Gather, and Grow.