Nate talks about
fishing and his voice rises with excitement. “I caught three at Spruce Run that
were this big,” he tells me as he describes the spot. Yes, he loves to
fish. To me, fishing is just another way
to get a sunburn.
Sean knows
coffee. The details of the roast, the
source of the beans, the temperature of the brew are issues of importance to
him at his shop where he aims to create a place where people can enjoy good
company and great coffee. I enjoy a
good cup of coffee, too, but I’m content with brewing mine each day from a good
old standard supermarket brand.
Terry cares
about God’s creation. He wants all of us to love creatures, to respect the
earth, and to eat locally grown vegetables. His intensity has stirred interest in me in a
subject about which I had little knowledge previously.
What are you
passionate about? What makes your eyes light up, your heart beat faster?
I love passionate
people! Yes, they are often fanatical,
sometimes opinionated, and even ready to push us to their position. But, they
change others because they care. There are some people who have given up on
caring about much of anything, who comes home to stare at the TV all evening
long without stirring. They are filled
with apathy. Perhaps they are so
overwhelmed by troubles that they “just don’t
care” about anything. And, tragically,
some are just too lazy in heart and mind to engage with life. Content to drift, they exist.
God calls us to zeal! When a
religious man came to Jesus asking about the highest and most important choice
in life, He answered him this way. “Love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind." (Matthew 22:37, NIV) In
other words, be passionate in your pursuit of God! Are you? Is the Lord the after-thought at the
end of the day or the first thought at the dawn? When you are blessed is He the One to whom
you give thanks first? When you are broken or torn, is He the One you turn to
for solace before all others? Is His
Presence your richest resource? Those
with passion for the Lord know the meaning of these words: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has
nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the
strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:25-26, NIV)
Let’s not confuse
religion with relationship. Paul warns about caring more for the traditions
than the One to whom they should point. "I
know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they
don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to
accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by
trying to keep the law." (Romans 10:2-3, NLT) Think long and hard about this – do you know
the Lord or just about Him? Christ is
the core, the very heart, of those who are passionate about Him. Every other decision is shaped by love for
Him.
Do you know Him
that way, Christian? Here’s the word
from the Word.
"Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but
God-seekers are full of God."
(Psalm 34:10, The Message)
"But all who are hunting for you— oh, let
them sing and be happy. Let those who know what you’re all about tell the world
you’re great and not quitting." (Psalm 40:16, The Message)
"Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his
works; be alert for signs of his presence." (Psalm 105:4, The Message)
____________
One Pure And Holy Passion
Give me one pure and holy passion!
Give me one magnificent obsession!
Jesus, give me one glorious ambition for my life;
To know and follow hard after You.
To know and follow hard after You,
To grow as Your disciple in the truth,
This world is empty pale and poor,
Compared to knowing You, my Lord.
Lead me on and I will run after You.
Mark Altrogge
© 1988 Dayspring
Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
Sovereign Grace
Praise (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License # 810055
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