Although a friend once told me that passion was
overrated, I believe that the things about which we are passionate give meaning
and purpose to life. The first
definition of “passion” in the dictionary is “compelling desire” with “sexual
desire” coming in third. When I talk
about passion, I am talking about what gets you up in the morning and keeps you
going all day.
A sense of passion
to encourage and disciple leaders for the church led me into a ministry with college
students. A passion for a free and
faithful expression of the church led me to work with the Tennessee Cooperative
Baptist Fellowship. A passion to walk
with and encourage church leaders led me into coaching. A passion to care for and support my family
sustains me daily.
In addition to all of the preceding, I have a passion for
the church. I will admit that such a
passion is not always easy to sustain.
When I see churches and their members being fearful, demanding, or
uncaring, my passion takes a hit. Things
continue to happen within the life of the church, however, that serve to
rekindle that passion.
When I see a youngster who has been nurtured within the fellowship
make a public profession of faith in Christ and seek believer’s baptism, my
passion is rekindled. When I see a young
couple cast their lot with the local fellowship of believers and begin serving
there, my passion grows. When I see the
church reach out to marginalized and needy people, my passion receives a
boost. When I see the church serving
members in time of loss and grief, my passion glows. When I see a church embrace a new ministry or
welcome a new leader with open arms, my passion soars.
Bill Hybels often says that we need to continue to cast
vision because “vision leaks.” In like
manner, we need to continue to nurture and seek passion in order to be faithful
to God’s call, both in the church and in ourselves.
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