A Passion for the Christ
A popular “buzz-word” has been used in recent years. That word is PASSION. Young athletes are encouraged to have a passion for their sport. Salesmen are admonished to have a passion for their products or services. Employees are challenged to exhibit a passion for their company. Slackers are told that they need a passion for ANYTHING! But how often have we been encouraged, admonished, challenged or DARED to have a passion FOR the CHRIST?
You have all heard of the Passion of the Christ. That, of course, refers to the suffering before and during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It refers to the depth of His incredible love and mercy that he freely gave to humanity. Our hearts and minds cannot fathom such selfless love. Our response as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should be an unashamed passion FOR the Christ. That means a seeking and a desire to know Him just as the lovers are pictured in the Song of Solomon.
The Word of God says that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all our daily needs will be supplied. That seeking is not a superficial glance. It is not the way a lazy child responds when he says, “I’ve cleaned my room.” It is not casually looking for something that we don’t care if we find or not. The seeking I’m talking about is an intense desire, no a CRAVING, for intimacy with the Lord. I confess, that I have not come near to that goal. How often mundane things have cluttered my life. I have frequently allowed the little things to blind my eyes from seeing the majesty He wants me to experience.
Like the ancient people of Galilee, I have sought for loaves and fishes instead of the Precious One who sought to give so much more. How often do we say that we love Him but our actions reflect so little of that love. In fact, those that show a zeal or passion are often ridiculed for being “fanatics”. In reality, there is probably a danger of being cold or indifferent rather than being too zealous. Lets all examine our lives to see where we fall short of His GLORY. Let us pray earnestly that He will stir up a passion within us that we can reflect His glory to a suffering world.
Deborah Marihugh
