passion

My favorite Scripture just might be Exodus 34:14: “God… is passionate about his relationship with you.” That absolutely overwhelms me every time I think about it. The fact that God loves us with such intensity is clearly demonstrated by what Jesus did for us through his incarnation, death, burial and resurrection.

As amazed as we might be at the passionate love God has for us, it is important to remember that God is passionate about everything he does. Everything he does he does with precision, plan, and purpose demonstrating his commitment to whatever he is involved with. God never does anything halfway or half-hearted.

Jesus was the same way. Scripture tells us that one day Jesus went to the Temple and found things not as they should be. (You can read the whole story in John chapter 2.) He didn’t just comment on the situation, he took action. The writer of John commented, “Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: ‘Passion for God’s house burns within me.'” (John 2:17)

Wisdom reminds us that, “Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark.” (Amiel) We are also told, “Follow your passion, and success will follow you.” (Arthur Buddhold)

I am so thankful that God has great passion for me. God never just “goes through the motions”. There was no price too high, no sacrifice too great, no inconvenience too disrupting to quench God’s passion for me. He comes through every time.

I cannot say that for myself. What about you? I am embarrassed to say there have been plenty of times I have “phoned it in”. I was too tired, too busy, too involved… let’s just cut to the chase, too self-absorbed to fully engage and be passionate about God or the work he has called me to.

Yet God remains passionate about his relationship with me. So, I am going to keep responding to that passion and learning from his example so that the flame of passion can be continually stirred in my life.