8 But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us,
by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. –Romans 5:8
We
have left out a great deal regarding the Passion of Christ, but the message is
this; I quote Warren Mueller, The Passion of Christ Bible Study. His words so express our feelings and passion
for Christ.
“The
life of Christ has set a pattern for living a passionate life for Him. Believers in Jesus experience a spiritual
birth that results in the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3; 1
Corinthians 6:19 )
therefore, believers have everything needed to live a passionate life for
Christ. Why then are there so few
passionate Christians? I believe the
answer lies in the fact that, so few Christians follow the pattern of Christ’s
life[1].”
Christ
totally submitted to the Will of the Father.
Nothing less is asked of us.
I
believe our submission begins with understanding in the heart of how much God
loves us. “Christ’s love for us is
not dependent on a quality in us that makes us lovable. He loves because He is love regardless of our
strengths or weaknesses.”[2]
We
submit to that love.
Once
I was told I was too passionate [for the Lord], the words from one I loved and
respected, pierced me deeply. I was
devastated. I was in a state of quandary. Can one be too passionate for Christ? God is good and when you seek Him, you will
find Him. I feel God led me to a sermon
written by Steve Saint. Steve Saint is
the son of Nate Saint. Nate Saint, a
pilot, served with Jim Elliott and three others as missionaries in Ecuador on
the Pacific side of the Andes. These men were attempting to evangelize the Waodani people in the
jungles of Ecuador. In 1956 during one
excursion the Waodani Indians killed these missionaries.
I
began to read and as I read this sermon by Steve Saint my heart quicken. Steve Saint had searched his heart and felt he
did not have the passion needed to bring the story of his dad and the other
missionaries to the world. He prayed,
“Lord give me passion.” Reading these
words my breath came in sharp gasps; and I lifted my voice to the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and humbly thanked HIM for my passion.
Steve
Saint portrayed his dad, Nate Saint, Jim Elliott, and the other missionaries in
the movie, “End of the Spear.”
We
have had several years to think about our passion for Christ Jesus. Does it not grow when we begin to relinquish
self and submit to our Heavenly Father?
[1]
Warren Mueller, The Passion of Christ Bible Study
[2]
Lloyd John Ogilvie, Ret. Chaplain, the United States Senate, “The Call to Unity
in Christ’s Body”.
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