Musick-al Note # ENTHUSIASM
A spirit of enthusiasm is essential for a ball team to do its best. With is, a team gains momentum throughout the entire game and especially when the end is near and victory is in its grasp so that they know they cannot lose. On the other hand, without enthusiasm, a team just can’t seem to get going. It may have all the basic essentials needed to win, yet fail to “click” or work in perfect harmony and members of the team never put forth the “second effort” needed to win. Enough losses or setbacks can take the spirit out of a team and then they seemingly cannot win.
Never before have had we needed this spirit in the church as we need it now. “Be strengthened by his Spirit” (Ephesians 3:16), enthused over the work of the Lord so that we feel that we just can’t lose. But how do we develop enthusiasm? Taking stock of ourselves and the power of the Lord working within us ought to help us see that we are on the winning side. A proper perspective of our setbacks can help keep them from having devastating effects on our enthusiasm. When losses or setbacks occur which in reality can keep us close to the Lord for even in failures we know God can bring good from it (Romans 8:28). Winning a few times always give a boost to our morale. Spiritually, we win many times and then fail to realize it. When another soul is added to the body of Christ, we have won; when on who has fallen away returns (James 5:20), we have won; when teachers teach lessons that bring favorable response in their students’ lives, we have won; when Christians meet together and worship God, we have won; when lessons stir us to do more and better work, we have won; when we enjoy the fellowship of other Christians; we have own; when a faithful Christians leaves this world to be with Christ; we have won. The Christian who walks after the spirit never loses.
Brethren, we are winning – never fear on this matter. Just put your hand to the plow and look ahead – Christ is coming again (John 14:3)! What a glorious day that will be! Christians will be honored, glorified and crowned with life eternal (1 Corinthians 15:24)! They surely will have won!
Gordon Musick
Musick-al Notes 