I want to focus your attention today on two passages. The first is Ecclesiastes 9:10,
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
The second passage is Colossians 3:23,
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.
Do you see the common theme? God desires us to live our lives full out, with passion. Whether you are a preacher, a writer, a teacher, or a singer, whatever you do, you are to do it with passion. You are to throw yourself into it.
People are attracted to passion. They want to see someone who is burning with a fiery zeal for whatever they do!
In my opinion, the greatest example of a passionate person is Jesus. Remember the story when Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple? That was a passionate act. In fact, the end of that passage says, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
Zeal is just another word for passion. “Passion for Your house has eaten Me up!” Have you ever tried to imagine Jesus doing that? I have a very clear image of what that must have been like.
He is whipping these guys and they are running, covering their heads. He is throwing over these big tables and the disciples are watching with their mouths wide open, when they remember the verse, “Zeal (passion) for Your house has eaten Me up.”
Let me ask you a question: When is the last time you were eaten up with zeal for anything? When is the last time you were utterly passionate about anything?
Don’t just sleepwalk through life. You need to decide you are going to live!
7 comments:
I cant agree more. I pray that my passion for life would go beyond my hobbies and spill over into my love for family, friends, the church and the lost.
Excellent reminder...
I'm praying for you guys as well!
Ditto. Should have that on my mirror to remind me daily.
cas
I like this passage ... a nice reminder.
LT
I like this one a alot, a very poignant reminder. It is very easy in my position to forget to be passionate.
My prayers are with all of those affected in the last few days.
crb
Just a little food for thought on this one...passion being a product of deep emotion, and emotions being so fickle and, really, so much out of our control...should we look at passion as a command, as something we are to do, per se, or should we view passion as a by-product of seeing, savoring, and experiencing the beauty of Jesus. Experience (and what I think Scripture teaches as well) tells me that he must act upon me before my heart can respond in love and passion toward him. My zeal runs out of steam unless it is fueled by a certainty of his delight in me as his child (Zeph 3:17). Once I am certain of his dying love, not just mentally but on a deeper, more emotional, existential level, passion becomes natural and effortless. Does that make sense?
So, in order for Him to fill us with the passion continously, we must seek Him whole heartedly continously,,,, right? I suspect that lack of zeal is completely due to our wordly distractions. The point here for me is to figure out how to train myself, or as Rick Warren puts it, rededicate myself almost continously.
still a work in progress to be honest
cas
Scott,
I do agree that we are to respond out of what Christ has done for us. The focus shouldn't be on the emotions because we know that fades. Priority for me is the key. I get distracted with different things like sports, bills, cars, etc and they will take priority over my prayer or devotional time. Thanks for the followup. Very eloguent
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