“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 2:14
We all get enthusiastic about winning! The dictionary defines enthusiasm as “intense and eager enjoyment.” Sunday we celebrated Father’s Day. After service we went to the Clam Digger for lunch, and ate by the seaside in St. Andrews. The food was great, well worth the wait, and we had lots of fun taking pictures and enjoying our time together before heading back to the Ledge for Pie and coffee. Lemon, Coconut Cream, and Strawberry Rhubarb if you are wondering what kind of pie. Who can’t get enthusiastic about that!
A little latter, I watched J J Spaun win the U.S. Open golf tournament. What a putt he sank on the final hole to seal the deal! Very exciting, since I was hoping he would win. He and his caddie were so filled with enthusiasm they did a little dance together.
I love watching happy enthusiastic people, celebrating, and enjoying the moment. I have had lots of those moments in life, haven’t you? Not the least The enthusiasm I feel when I remember the arrival and continued presence of the five people who call me Dad.
But do you know that the most enthusiastic people on earth should be Christians? As a matter of fact, the word enthusiasm in the Greek is Entheos. En, meaning ‘within’. And Theos, meaning ‘God’. Enthusiasm therefore is ‘God within’. When we are filled with God , our whole outlook and demeanor will be different. And it is contagious; others will pick up on our enthusiasm and reflect it back.
Since, according to the Greek, lasting enthusiasm comes from the Spirit within, Paul prayed that we be “strengthen with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. That you being rooted and established in love, may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled with all ‘fullness of God.’ How can you be anything but enthusiastic about that?
Blessings,
Pastor Gord