Christ Redeems

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Romans 12:11

Every word in Romans 12 is written under the banner of the first verse: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God…” (12:1). All that we are called to do in this chapter is in the light of God’s mercy. This includes all that God has done for us in Jesus Christ, as laid out in Romans chapters 1 through 11.

So when God says, “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord,” we are to pursue this “by the mercies of God.” When you are run down and your soul is sluggish, the place to begin in renewing your fervor is to take in a good dose of what God has done for you in Christ.

You find yourself in a place where you are tired. You have experienced various discouragements and you are feeling sorry for yourself. You are losing energy and motivation. So you say to yourself, “This is no good. How am I going to shake myself out of this?”

It is often helpful at times like these to ask: How does the Bible speak to what I am experiencing right now? There is a phrase in Galatians 6:9 where Paul speaks about being “weary of doing good” or “weary in well doing” (KJV).

If you are in Christ, He has brought you into a redeemed life in which you are forgiven for all your sin, lovingly adopted into the family of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and destined for a life of everlasting joy. So, why are you feeling sorry for yourself? Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.

Are there times when you feel sorry for yourself? If so, think about your position in Christ. Meditate on what He has done for you.