Don't Drag Your Feet (Romans 12:11)

Often we complain about the lack of practical advice or direction we receive from our time spent in prayer or study of the Bible. However the problem is not really what we don’t hear- but what we already know and don’t follow. This hits home every time we read the Sermon on the Mount or consider what the early church gave up to follow Jesus. Yes, we know that our works do not save us, but like in this post about Christian character, that shouldn’t mean an automatic disconnect between our faith and action. In memorizing this section of Scripture I’ve been struck by how much time I could spend just studying this picture of Christian living. Verse eleven is no different and begins a list that I’ve been thinking over all week long.

“not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;” Romans 12:11

Lagging (oknéros): lazy, slothful, backward, reluctant, troublesome

Diligence (spoudé): haste, earnestness, enthusiasm, zealous, speed on

Fervent (zeó): burn, boil, show great zeal

Spirit (pneuma): wind, breath, spirit

Serving (douleuó): slave to, subject to, obey, devoted to

And here is my rewritten version:

“Don’t drag your feet or act lazy in your role as servant to the Lord. Instead boil over with zealous enthusiasm- racing on in devotion to God.”

For my question section I think automatically of Francis Chan’s writing on following Jesus in his book Crazy Love.

“Are you willing to say to God that He can have whatever he wants?  Do you believe that wholehearted commitment to Him is more important than any other thing or person in your life?  Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people He has made?”

Text Reference: Chan, F. (2008). Crazy love. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook.

Helps Word Studies copyright © 1987, 2011 by Helps Ministries, Inc.

Strong, J. (2009). Exhaustive concordance, updated edition KJV. Peabody: Hendrickson publishers.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Photo Reference: University of Washington Libraries. Students enjoying a sack race, University of Washington, ca. 1915