Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Passionate Christianity
Today’s Verse:
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. ~1 Thessalonians 2:8
What are you passionate about? John Knox cried out, “Give me Scotland or I’ll die!” He was passionate about winning Scotland to Christ. Whatever you are passionate about tells other people what is important to you. Whatever you are passionate about is what you give yourself to accomplish. Paul described his passion for the people that lived in Thessalonica as “being affectionately desirous of you.”
We see the craving.
“So being affectionately desirous of you.” Passion is an overwhelming desire and drive about someone or something. Passion is a powerful or compelling emotion or feeling. Passion is a fire, a focus, and a finish. Passion is something that a person gives all of himself to. Passion is someone or something that you think about all the time. Passion is what consumes you to do what you do. Passion is what compels a person to get up early, go to bed late, arrive at something before others, and stay at it longer than others. Passion is something that you would fight to the death for. Passion is the fuel that drives a person to accomplishment. Are you passionate for God? Are you passionate for God’s Word and the spread of the gospel?
We see the cost.
“We were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.” When you are driven by passion, you are willing to give up something to accomplish your desire. Passion involves sacrifice. Passion is what you will spend unlimited hours at. Passion is staying at the hospital bedside of an ill child until the child is well and able to go home. Passion is investing your life savings in an idea that you believe will work and can change the lives of other people. Passion is what you are willing to die for. Paul described his passion for the Thessalonians in two ways. First, he said that he was willing to impart his own soul for them. In other words, he was willing to give up everything, including his life, so that these people could be saved. Second, he said that he labored and travailed night and day for them. He labored in spite of the heartache, hurt, and difficulty. He described the pain that he experienced for their spiritual welfare as a woman going through birth travail. Passion is our Lord Jesus Christ going all the way to the cross to die for our sins. If we have true passion, it will cost us.
We see the compensation.
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” When passion is our driving motivation for reaching people, we have the joy that there will be souls in heaven because we obeyed the Lord in getting the gospel to those who are not saved.
When Hudson Taylor was director of the China Inland Mission, he often interviewed candidates for the mission field. On one occasion, he met with a group of applicants to determine their motivations for service. “And why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary?” he asked one. “I want to go because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” was the reply. Another said, “I want to go because millions are perishing without Christ.” Others gave different answers. Then Hudson Taylor said, “All of these motives, however good, will fail you in times of testings, trials, tribulations, and possible death. There is but one motive that will sustain you in trial and testing—namely, the love of Christ.” [1]
Resolve this morning that you will be a passionate Christian: one who is passionate for souls to be saved and who will live for God.
Have a passionate God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Samuel 25-27
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