Divine enthusiasm

By: Alistair Begg – October 30, 2026.

Key points

• Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. – Romans 12: 11.
• With President Trump in her corner, Senator Hyde-Smith doesn't pull punches as she seeks re-election.
• Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975.
• When our minds are under the jurisdiction of God's Spirit and God's word, the rest will inevitably follow as He intends.
• Budd Van Lines entry into Mississippi draws objection from firms already operating in the state.

Picture a kitchen in an old British farmhouse, in which sits a pan on the stove, full of water bubbling away. That is the image Paul provides here regarding spiritual commitment. He essentially notes that in Christ we are to keep the spiritual pot boiling. We're not to go hot and then cold-we're not to be enthusiastic at one moment and lose steam the next.

Once God's grace has laid hold of us and we have been transformed by Christ and received His righteousness by faith, we must apply that righteousness to our living. Part of this applied righteousness is to do the work of Jesus with a certain divinely inspired, divinely commanded enthusiasm.

It is straightforward, though, to be prone to laziness and to lapse into a spiritual half-heartedness. The book of Proverbs has much to say, often with a tinge of humor, regarding the dangers and the results of a lazy life. One proverb describes a man who is so lazy that having put his spoon into the bowl from which he's eating, he can't bring himself to lift it back out (Proverbs 19: 24; 26: 15). Another describes laziness in a man burying himself under his blankets and staying there: "As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed" (v 14).

By contrast, the ultimate goal of Spirit-empowered zeal is to serve the Lord. How significant it is for us to keep that goal in mind! When we do so, we recognize how even the most trivial activity-greeting a client, cleaning up a mess at home, loading or unloading the dishwasher, teaching each other, taking notes, giving an injection, speaking to our children, anything-can become a spiritual act of worship. Even the most routine part of our day can reflect our divine enthusiasm.

What brings your spiritual zeal to the boiling point these days? Serving Christ in worship? Sharing your faith with a colleague or stranger? Caring for your aging parents? Supporting the work of Christ throughout the world? Whatever it is, don't let up on your zeal. Keep the water boiling by serving the Lord in every moment of every day in response to the grace that He pours out on you every moment of the day. Come to Him each morning and ask Him to ensure that you will not grow weary. Then in all things His name will be proclaimed, and He will be glorified.

Regarding the Author(s).

Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975. After graduation from The London School of Theology, he served eight years in Scotland at both Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church. In 1983, he became the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. He has written a number of books and is heard daily and weekly on the radio program, Truth For Life. His Daily Devotionals are presented here via a syndication agreement. Faith Alistair Begg October 28, 2026.

We must be careful not to fall into the world's trap of calling "evil good and good evil" or being those "who put darkness for light and light for darkness." More From This Author. Faith Alistair Begg October 27, 2026. Faith Alistair Begg October 26, 2026. Faith Alistair Begg October 23, 2026. Together is where we belong. Faith Alistair Begg October 29, 2026. Faith Alistair Begg October 22, 2026.

In practice, the Christian's view of self should be grounded in a mind renewed by God. With this perspective, we find our value in God's mercy and grace. Faith Alistair Begg October 21, 2026.

When our minds are under the jurisdiction of God's Spirit and God's word, the rest will inevitably follow as He intends. News Jeremy Pittari October 29, 2026.

Budd Van Lines entry into Mississippi draws objection from firms already operating in the state. News Frank Corder October 29, 2026.

With President Trump in her corner, Senator Hyde-Smith doesn't pull punches as she seeks re-election. News Frank Corder October 29, 2026.

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In short, divine enthusiasm is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.