Yesterday was a wonderful day. Someone we had recently been praying for recently gave their heart to Christ. Our hearts were filled with joy as we prayed with this person. God is really wonderful.
You could say we were very enthusiastic about what God had done. Enthusiasm literally means zealous or passionate interest in something. This dictionary definition however does not do justice to the historical connotation of the word.
The Greeks initially used enthusiasm to describe one who was possessed by a god. Initially this was really a person who was drunk, being possessed by Dionysus, the god of wine. This person obviously would be exuberant in actions and gestures beyond the norm. The word evolved eventually to mean someone who was filled with religious and sometimes political inspiration. Evidently these religious zealots still exhibited outer characteristics that warranted the same description. Essentially through history, enthusiasm has had both positive and negative connotation depending on the society and context. However the exuberance of the enthusiast in observable actions has never changed.
The reason we focus on this word is its linkage to the word joy in the New and Old Testament. “Leaping for joy” in scripture is rooted in the word enthusiasm. Thus, as Mary felt Jesus kick in her spirit, or as the disciples are enjoined to leap for joy at impending persecution, they are engaging in being enthusiasts.
What word picture comes to your mind in relation to enthusiasm? Do you envision a youth leaping for joy at the prospect of going on a summer vacation or a sports fanatic running wildly onto the field as its favourite team just won the cup? These pictures are both accurate. God desires that we would be enthusiastic in our celebration of Him. When he speaks of being joyful, it doesn’t relate to only inner contentment and satisfaction. It speaks of an exuberant, almost fanatic or infantile, outward display of unusual gesticulation. Does this describe you? Are you joyful? Are you enthusiastic in relation to God?
After last night my understanding of biblical joy has compounded. As a few of us stayed late to pray, we encountered God in a unique way. Several times during the prayer time, God’s spirit which possesses us was felt in an uncontainable fashion. We found ourselves literally leaping for joy and running around. There was no inhibition by our age, culture or temperament. I am not sure why I leapt for joy. It could have been because of excitement at the recent salvation or a plethora of things God has done. Whatever the cause it was a childlike-biblical response to the abundant excitement felt inside.
Be joyful. Rejoice. Be an enthusiast. Leap for joy. As you practice the joy of the Lord, his strength, splendour and goodness will be more evident in your life.
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1 comment:
I loved that!
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