Motivated By Divine Passion

“Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark,” penned the 19th century Swiss poet and philosopher Henri-Frédéric Amiel.

Nothing worthwhile in life is achieved without passion. This is true in sports, education, business and it’s true spiritually. Our theme this year, Be Zealous: Igniting Your Spiritual Passion” is dedicated to exploring how to build, grow, and maintain our zeal for “the things of God.”

Perhaps the best place to begin is to return to the Divine Source. Jehovah is described with many qualities and characteristics in the Old Testament, not the least of which is His passion for His people.

The Bible in Exodus 20:5 describes God as a “jealous God.” Normally we think of jealously as a negative trait. However, since God is good, holy, and righteous we understand His jealousy to depict the passion He feels for those who belong to Him.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of God’s zeal like a warriors battle cry (42:13). It was a zeal that protected and preserved the faithful remnant, even in captivity (37:32). And it was a zeal that motivated His compassion, mercy, might, and good deeds toward Israel (63:15).

Furthermore, it was God’s passion to provide a Savior that compelled Him to send His son into a sinful world to provide a means of reconciliation and redemption. Paul expressed it this way in Titus 2:11-14.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Phillip Shumake observed that this passage summarizes Jesus’ purpose and mission on earth. “When God described the kind of people He desires, He specially chose the word zealous.” Note the message of verse 14.

#1 Jesus purchased you.

By the blood of Christ, we have been bought with a price (Ax. 20:28; 1 Corr. 6:19-20). We’ve been redeemed from the cluches of Satan, from the burden, bondage and blame of sin, and from a life of lawlessness.

#2 Jesus purified you.

To purify is to make clean. To purge. To cleanse. To be free from defilement. To be free from the guilt of sin. To consecrate. Jesus redemptive work accomplishes all of that and more.

#3 Jesus took possession of you.

We belong to Him. We are “His own special people.” In a unique way God has separated us from this wicked world and brought us into fellowship with Him. This was God’s eternal purpose according to Ephesians 1:4-7

“He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

#4 Jesus wants to produce zeal in you.

Indeed, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).

Thus, our Christianity is not to be passive, but active. Not a spectator, but a participant. Not ritualistic, but personal and passionate.

This zeal Jesus desires of His people is the type of zeal that characterized His ministry and mission on earth. It was that passion that spurred His cleansing of the Temple, which had been corrupted by carnality and greed. And prompted the disciples response from Scripture, “The zeal of your house has eaten me up (Ps. 69:9; Jn. 2;17).

Since, we are called to be holy like the Lord (1 Pet. 1:15-16), and are “partakers of the Divine nature’ (2 Pet. 1:4), our lives should be characterized by zeal.

If you’re living a lackluster spiritual life, return to the Source. Allow the Lord to produce in you that spark to reignite your zeal.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman