Enthusiasm
David Francis
Some might say I have enthusiasm for a few pet subjects! Should I get out more?
But we like what we like, and it is hard to hide it!
In Greek the word for enthusiasm is ‘Entheos’ and means ‘God within’.
That might sound a bit pompous and presumptuous but, as those who are baptised into Christ, that is exactly what was promised when we had hands laid upon us & the gift of the Holy Spirit given. Jesus said He would make his dwelling in us, by the Holy Spirit.
We are encouraged to ‘fan the flame and stir up the gift’ (2 Timothy 1:6), ‘renew our strength daily’ (2 Corinthians 4:16), ‘study to show ourselves approved’ (2 Timothy 2:15), and ‘abide in Christ’ (John 15:4), who is the very WORD of God (John 1:14).
But how do we do this on a consistent basis, because so many things come and go and try to knock us off our intentional path? For me it is seeking out & studying those things that relate to Jesus which I find interesting & intriguing in the Scriptures.
Contrary to some observations I don’t live by bread alone (!) I do consume the word of God quite a bit, and love it even more than the physical food because my eternity is bound up in it.
I actively keep an eye out for recommendations, links and resources that seek to explain the culture & reasoning behind aspects of the subject I might be thinking about at any one time. It is amazingly fruitful to deep dive into specific topics and really get to understand what it is all about.
However, there are so many resources nowadays you have to be careful.
I have found it is helpful to cross-check sources, put greater weight behind peer-reviewed books or articles. Traditional doctrines & statements that concur with balanced sound-minded groups & individuals, and have stood the test of time, are also helpful.
’Does it agree with what Jesus might do or think?’ That is another good test.
Once you start to unpack the cultural world around biblical subjects that are of interest, often fascinating new insights are revealed and they just provoke deeper thought & study, as well as exciting the enthusiasm within.
Keeping perspective on the ‘big picture’ is also necessary. I have found the Bible Project, (https://bibleproject.com/about/) is particularly good at this.
They summarise how they engage with scripture: “The Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus.”
Ecclesiastes 12:12 says, ‘And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.’
I certainly have been wearied in my time but, more recently while resting on the sure promises of God, I enjoy and am enthused by the study & instruction around the things I become enthusiastic about. I love to find God within them, and that enthuses God within me!
I’d recommend feeding that hunger within.
