September 4, 2017 - What Does Passion Look Like?

I’m gonna quote my dear friend Jason Otter (basketball trainer extraordinaire), “I can’t stand quitters!” Jason then follows up with the statement that he has never quit anything in his life, and I believe him. He is a man that has obtained excellence and reached maximum potential in what he has set his mind to. (I would highly encourage basketball players to check into training with Otter Basketball.)

Basically I am seeing our culture continue to settle for less, while wanting to look like they are more… I have written about it many times… this is the culture that will buy jeans with holes already in them in and call it fashion; when it is really just trying to look like hard workers without the work!

This mentality is running rampant through all of our culture, including the church. There is a lot of stage lights, fog machines, and excitement that has the appearance of success… yet not necessarily a lot of depth and commitment underneath. We have many that love to ride the wave until things get rough… and then we see people quit.

What I mean by that is that commitment seems to be lacking when it comes to the basic truths of Scripture and how we, as believers in Christ, should live. We have a lot of dunk shows but little emphasis on fundamentals.

Where is our passion for truth? Where is our passion for honoring God in all we do?

How do I define passion? It is not just by asking do you love God… but instead are you fully “in”? When the lights go down and the fog settles, are you committed to God’s ways being your ways? People that are passionate are people that can’t quit! Their passion won’t let them…

Solid, mature believers are those that won’t quit on their churches…

Solid, mature believers are those that won’t quit on their spouses…

Solid, mature believers are those that won’t quit on their ethics in business, etc…

Circumstances should not dictate one’s actions… God’s truth… God’s way… should rule supreme! Passion is evidenced in obedience!

I love the way The Message paraphrase states this in Psalm 119:4 You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it.

Evaluate your life not based upon circumstances but instead in light of God’s Word and its directions on how we should be living! Are you passionate (Can’t quit)? Are you obedient (Won’t waver from the truth)?

NOTE: Your passion for and obedience to Christ is not what saves you! It was His passion for us and His obedience to the Father that saved us… He was all in… couldn’t quit… in His journey to the cross! Thank goodness my salvation is a gift I received by faith in the finished work of Christ!

Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.