Passion fruit

Is there something you are really passionate about, that you feel so deeply about you want everyone you meet to feel the same way? Maybe it's your favorite sport, or your favorite sports team that gets you fired up. Politics frequently gets people revved up and ready to argue with anyone who does not share the same opinion, and sometimes even those who feel the same way. And of course when you are in love, the only thing you can talk or think about is that other person. When we are passionate about something, we want to talk about it and pretty much will not shut up about it, much to the chagrin of others who do not feel as deeply. Passion brings with it fruit; we cannot just sit quietly when there is passion running through us or we feel that we will explode.

Why is it that it's okay for people to be passionate about sports or politics or a relationship, but it is not acceptable to be passionate about God? For too long, especially here in the United States, faith has been pushed aside as being politically incorrect, especially faith in Jesus. Faith is supposed to be a private matter, between us and God, right? WRONG! We need to be as passionate about God as we are about anything else, in fact more passionate. After all, if we really follow Jesus, if we really believe he has done something significant in our lives, we should be ready and willing to share that with anyone and everyone who will listen.

I do not mean that we should try to bully or badger anyone into following Jesus, too, but we need to have a fresh passion about our relationship with God and about what God has done in our lives. I am not ashamed to say that I am a follower of Jesus, yes, a Christian. I do not want to try and force anyone else into believing as I do; that is wrong and hurtful to both others and to the name of Jesus. Nowhere in the Bible do I see Jesus behaving that way. He did, however, offer life freely to all who would accept it, and he was never hesitant to speak the truth in love. Some accepted his offer and many did not, but he made the offer anyways, even when there were those who wanted him to be silent. I want to follow his example and tell everyone who will hear that his offer is still the same today: to all who will receive him, he will give eternal life, and he will make a difference in your life today if you will let him.

Passion can give energy and enthusiasm to do great things. The best sports athletes are passionate about their game and about being the best at what they do. Great leaders are passionate about where they are going and what they are doing. What are you passionate about today? Is there anything that energizes you when you think about it, that drives you in some way? If you do not know Jesus, you can connect with him now and find something worth becoming passionate about; simply ask him to come into your life and meet you right where you are at, admit that you need him. If you do know Jesus but you have lost your passion for following him, ask him and he will meet you to refresh and renew you so that you can be passionate again.  

May 25, 2008