What's Your Passion?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

What’s your passion? What’s keeping you from pursuing it?
Passion is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as, “Powerful, intense emotion. Passionate devotion to or interest in a cause or subject. A subject or activity that inspires lively interest. A strong, enthusiastic liking for something.” Synonyms would include Fervor, Fire, Enthusiasm, and Love.

My friend Dr. Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida, says it this way, “Passion is a consuming, motivating love and commitment for someone or something. In this context, it is a burning desire to please God above men.”

Passion is what drives men and women to desire more than what is expected. It’s a fire in the belly that drives one to go deeper… to try harder... to give that extra push. Passion is what causes an athlete to stay long after others have left, to work on the little things…the things that will separate him from the pack… the things that will lead him to the top. That passion drives him to use and build on his God-given talents and abilities…to overcome his desire to stop or rest…to take another step…to make another shot… to run another sprint, so that he can be better today than he was yesterday. That passion is what pushes Olympic hopefuls to train eight hours a day, every day, for that one event… for that one chance to compete… to work their whole lives for one shining moment…for that one shot at the gold.

Passion is what causes a musician to spend hours at the piano, practicing a piece of music…over and over until he gets it right...until it is played as the composer meant for it to be played…as it was meant to sound. That passion for music causes the young guitar player to learn and practice her notes and chords until her fingers are blistered…until those blisters turn to callous…until she can put those chords together to form a beautiful song.
Passion is what causes a horse trainer to rise up before dawn every morning, every day to train the thoroughbred. It causes the entrepreneur to start on his own…to take the risk…to step out in faith. That passion causes artists to paint their masterpiece… Singers to sing their song… Preachers to preach their message.

I have an old friend in Tallahassee, Florida who is a former fighter pilot turned entrepreneur and lay leader in his church and community, who explains passion like this:
“If passion is a need, like the air we breathe, then our witness can be the first breath to the lost or “mouth to mouth” for those whose faith is dry and wavering in the heat of the valley. If you’ve ever held your breath under water for a long time, there’s a certain passion for that first breath above the surface. Your lungs ache and start to expand and contract as if you’re breathing, but your mouth and nose remain closed as you struggle upward. It’s survival kind of passion and we really ought to view our “neighbor” in light of this life or death struggle to breathe. Unfortunately, many don’t feel the need. They’ve found some poisonous smoke to breathe that numbs and satisfies in the short term. Therein lies the challenge. Exchanging the temporal, habitual pollution for the clean air of eternal salvation. The promise of salvation may be immediate, but the process of eliminating the damage of and desire for that pollution is a lifelong process, not an event.”

Louie Giglio, in describing Choice Ministries, the umbrella for the Passion Conferences, One Day events and the 268 Movement, says that, ”Choice Ministries seeks to lead people to a renewed passion for God and fresh encounters of worship.”

Passion causes people like Louie Giglio to step up and call a nation of young people to draw near to God and go deeper in their faith…to a renewed passion for God…to worship Him like never before. Giglio’s passion is to see young people across this nation begin to seek God…seek Truth…seek Jesus with a fervor, a fire, a burning desire to know Him…and know Him more. To seek Him out with a passion.
Passion is what caused a Savior to die on a cross… so that we may have life... so that we may be forgiven...

What’s your passion? What’s keeping you from doing it?

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem


Photo by Mark Foley