WHAT IS YOUR PASSION?
We hear much about passion these days. There are those who have a passionate love of sports. (We just watched the Super Bowl football game at our house. The passion of the fans was certainly seen in that crowd on television.) There are those who have a passionate love for their children and I’m so thankful for that. There are those who have passion for their daily work. There are those who have passion for the good things of this world. And of course there are also those who have a passion for sin. I believe every one of us is passionate about something – a good cause, a sin we hold onto, a person, a political stance. What is YOUR passion?
I don’t know where your passion lies, but I believe the Lord would have all of us who proclaim to be Christians to have a passion that only He can instill in us – a passion for those around us.
What kind of passion does He want us to have? “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) Now this is not something we can do in and of ourselves. This is a love that the Lord works within us. It is only as we trust in Him that He can work that love for Him in our hearts.
The second part of those verses say: “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22: 39) Again, this is not something we can do on our own. It is a love that the Lord can instill in our hearts.
Do you have a love for the people around you? People need to see Jesus in us. Not only do they need to “see” Jesus in us, they need to hear about Jesus from us. We cannot be silent. If we are silent, our time to share Him with others could be lost. This does not mean we “shove it down their throat” so to speak. We must get to know our neighbors first – to befriend them – before they will openly listen to us. When we get to know them and them us, there is a trust built up that will allow them to listen to what we have to say. I pray that you will truly have a passion for those around you.
This old gospel song truly does express the desire of one who loves the Lord and wants others to know Him:
Give me a passion for souls, dear Lord
Author: Herbert G. Tovey
Give me a passion for souls, dear Lord,
Author: Herbert G. Tovey
Give me a passion for souls, dear Lord,
A passion to save the lost;
O that Thy love were by all adored,
And welcomed at any cost.
Refrain
Jesus, I long, I long to be winning
Men who are lost, and constantly sinning;
O may this hour be one of beginning
The story of pardon to tell.
Though there are dangers untold and stern
Confronting me in the way,
Willingly still would I go, nor turn,
But trust Thee for grace each day.
Refrain
How shall this passion for souls be mine?
Lord, make Thou the answer clear;
Help me to throw out the old life line
To those who are struggling near.
Refrain
