I’ve often been described as a pretty passionate guy. I can get worked up or emotional about things that are important to me. But that wasn’t always the case.
If you were to look up the word “passion” in the dictionary you’ll discover two definitions. The first is defined as a “strong and barely controllable emotion.” This is what you see in people; you see their passion or love for someone or something. You see it in what they do, what they say, how they react to certain things. Their passion drives them to live a certain way.
The second definition of passion is this: “the suffering and death of Jesus.” This definition, derived from the Latin word “passionem” meaning “suffering” or “enduring,” refers to the short final period of Jesus’ life beginning with his final entrance into Jerusalem leading to his crucifixion on Mount Calvary which is central to the doctrine of salvation in the Christian faith. The word passion describes Jesus’ final week on earth where he has some of his most intimate conversations with his disciples, he shares a very important meal with them (the Last Supper), he models before them that each of his followers is to be a servant of others by washing their feet, he’s betrayed by one of his friends, is wrongly arrested, beaten and tortured, and yet, because of his immense love for you and I, goes to the cross and dies a horrendous death to pay for our sin, though he had never sinned. That’s passion!
For me, the 2nd gave me the 1st. I’ve always been a pretty easygoing, laid-back guy; never got too excited about anything. But when I finally realized and understood what Jesus did for me, what he did for us, it totally changed the way I live and my priorities in life. I finally found my passion and why God created me.
So here’s the question… what are you passionate about? God created YOU for a purpose. Have you discovered it yet? Your heavenly Father has a purpose and a plan for your life, a plan to glorify His name through your life and your passion. Find what it is and go after it!