Focus To Feed It!

Someone has said, "No one keeps up his enthusiasm automatically. Enthusiasm must be nourished with new actions, new aspirations, new efforts, new vision. It is one's own fault if his enthusiasm is gone. He has failed to feed it." [Shared via a bulletin clipping]

What is it we are feeding? Is it our fears? Is it our misunderstanding? Is it our wonder? Or is it our faith and conviction linked to our relationship with Christ?

Paul revealed his marvelous perspective to the Corinthian brethren where he wrote. . .
"(7) But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (8) We are afflicted in every way, BUT NOT CRUSHED; perplexed, BUT NOT DRIVEN TO DESPAIR; (9) persecuted, BUT NOT FORSAKEN; struck down, BUT NOT DESTROYED; (10) always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." ( 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 ESV)

With some of the things Paul faced in his ministry we might have felt no surprise had he decided to quit the mission field and gone back to tent-making. How did he keep his ENTHUSIASM? How did he keep his ZEAL for the work? Paul pressed on in the conviction of his labors in the Lord. With his Lord, mission, and future in mind, he would not allow the circumstances he met bring him down. Though Paul had many good thoughts about his past works, he kept his focus on that which was yet to be done. This was all with a view that it was God's power working in him, a power which Paul allowed to work.

And that is the key idea in the word "ENTHUSIASM". The two parts that make up this word are "en" and "theos (Gk. enthousiasmos); "in" and "God" or "God in". As God dwells within us by His Spirit, we too should have an ENTHUSIASM that continues to be fed.

Let us not depend on the actions of the past to keep us ENTHUSED for God. The only way to remain ENTHUSED is to keep focused on the present needs and continue in labor for His cause and to His glory.

Have a great day focused to FEED YOUR ENTHUSIASM!
Carl

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[This focus was originally sent 01/29/1999 (Edited some with passage changed to ESV)]

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