Thursday, March 28, 2019

10. Growing in Prayer – The Learning Tree (5) Submission


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”.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for your comments. We will pray for you when we read them.