I have a word; I want to share it with you. Enthusiasm. The Lord put this on my heart after watching a young lady minister through song in a recent church service. She stood before the congregation to sing, and she burst with enthusiasm. Her love and zeal for the Lord combined with the enthusiastic worship she poured from deep within filled her music and flowed over the congregation. It was contagious!
As I watched her, I was reminded of how the Lord uses our music to minister and to prepare hearts to hear His Word. When that music is presented with a heart full of zeal and enthusiasm for the Lord it is powerful. Enthusiasm. You can see it, hear it, and feel it when you’re in a sports arena filled with fans, but often times, it’s difficult to detect in a church service or in the music that’s filling the service.
And, too frequently, we, who are veterans in the music ministry, struggle the most with serving with enthusiasm. The Lord reminded me of a couple of verses in Scripture. The first is in 2 Corinthians 9. It is speaking of the church in Corinth and their zealous and enthusiastic giving of service to the saints. And, this enthusiasm was stirring others to action! Now, that’s the kind of ministry we want to have! We should want to serve and sing the truth of God’s Word with such enthusiasm and conviction that it stirs others to action. Contagious enthusiasm!
The second verse is Romans 12:11. It says, “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” (ESV) Zeal, fervor, enthusiasm – these are the words that should describe our walk with the Lord. These are the words that should describe our faithful service to Him. These are the words that should describe our music ministry to the Body of Christ.
Now, let me emphasize that I am not talking about putting on a fake front by trying to fake enthusiasm to put on a good show. No! I’m talking about an outpouring of zeal and enthusiasm because of our love for the Lord, because of all He has done for us, and because we have so much to be thankful for. Consider how great a salvation has been given to us. The call to serve our King and Savior should be carried out with enthusiasm and zeal.
Furthermore, as Paul commanded in Romans 12 – don’t be slothful in your zeal. So, let me encourage you as musicians for Jesus, whether young or old, beginners or veterans, to serve the Lord with enthusiasm. Be contagious in your zeal for the Lord. Your ministry will have an impact on others and encourage others to action. Let’s serve and sing with enthusiasm!