I was reading Colossians 3:2 and, as is so often the case when I study the Scriptures, I ran across an interesting translation of this verse. The King James Version reads, Set your affection on things above. However, the Greek meaning in a literal sense is to interest yourself in things above, implying a moral purity, as the subsequent verses in Colossians declare. What is true in this verse is also true in the Christian’s life. If we plan to glorify Jesus and enjoy our life in the Spirit, we must get excited about the things of God.

I feel strongly about this at Koinonia, that we need to get back to the roots of our faith and get excited. Our adversary has probably destroyed (i.e., rendered inoperative) as many saints with boredom as he has with compromise. Have you ever asked God to give you a thrill with regard to godly things? Satan has been very successful in painting the Christian life as boring. Many Christians, after the initial encounter with Jesus, either remain in the status quo or take a few steps backward. Is that why God has saved us? Do you really think that we, as the Israel of God, glorify Him when we look back at our former friends and old way of living and sigh, Gee, my life used to be fun, but nowÖ?

Paul wrote to Titus that Jesus gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. If thinking about your redemption doesn’t excite you, consider this: it’s the servants of the Lord who see the miracles. Any true servant of Jesus will testify that obeying the Lord is often exciting, but if we stray or rebel the Lord says to us: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. When we’re excited about following Jesus, we can both bless others by our zeal, and influence them to also serve Him.

Mark it well – when we lose our zeal for prayer, worship, and witnessing, or we’re no longer thrilled by Bible study, giving, helping others, etc., spiritual decay lies ahead, and we’ll replace the things of God with any number of other things. Are you spiritually bored today? What really excites you? Whatever comes to your mind is what is in your heart in abundance.

Jesus said, Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up. Today’s English version translates that verse, My devotion to Your house, God, burns in me like a fire. Shouldn’t that be our testimony as well? Let’s get excited!