“11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.”
Verse 11 compels us to serve the Lord in the highest capacity that we are able. The ESV translates the phrase “Do not lack diligence” as “Do not be slothful”. Acting out the Lord’s will in servantship is not a passive activity, but rather it requires zeal. Here’s a description by Paul of a man who is fervent in the Spirit:
“Now a Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately…For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.” — Acts 18:24-26, 28
Using Apollos as an example, we see that to be fervent in spirit is to be zealously and boldly proclaiming the gospel and refuting that which is false and wrong. Notice how these character traits very much coincide with the attributes of true Christ-like love we discussed in the previous two devotionals.
Verse 11 speaks to the actions that a follower of Jesus must take to do God’s will, while verse 12 speaks to the attitude that a follower of Jesus must have while seeking to do God’s will. Christians are to be zealous in accomplishing God’s will, confessing, “Jesus is Lord”, rooting out evil, and serving the body of believers. While we carry out these tasks, we are called to have an attitude that rejoices, is patient, and is persistent in prayer. What is the hope that we are to rejoice in? The hope that we have obtained in Christ crucified and raised! We rejoice in the hope that delights in the glory of God, displayed in Christ’s righteousness. Paul has already spoken to this, and how it relates to our afflictions in chapter 5:
“We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” — Romans 5:2-5
Paul also tells us to be persistent in prayer. Few in scripture were persecuted and under affliction more than the disciples of Jesus after His death and resurrection. The disciples’ response to this pressure was to band together and pray.
“When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” — Acts 1:13-14
Even in Christ, we see a response to pressure and affliction that results in fervent and meaningful prayer to God the Father:
“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”” — Matthew 26:36, 38-39
We have clear examples from Scripture that Christians are meant to be men and women who pray. We are called to be a people who pray about everything: A people who pray during times of much and during times of little, a people who pray during times of comfort and during times of strife and suffering. We should pray for ourselves and our own walk with God, and also for our brothers and sisters in Christ whom we serve with our gifts. We not only serve one another through our physical gifts and talents, but also through our prayer for their needs to be met and for their faith in Christ to grow.