Passion
Passion is defined as a strong and barely controllable emotion, an intense desire or enthusiasm for something.
We are all consumed with passion for something. This may be passion for a person, passion for a pursuit, passion for a hobby or interest, passion for an idea or a belief. It's different for everyone, but everyone has passion in their life. In fact, passion is a driving force behind life.
However, not all passions are the same, and not all are good.
In the Bible, almost every time the word passion is used it is in a negative light. The Bible talks about passions for things that harm us and are detrimental: physically, spiritually, emotionally, but always hurtful and not good for us. God says that we should flee from these things. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't; they run toward these harmful passions and bury themselves deeply within them.
Think about people you know who have fallen within passion for drugs, alcohol, power, sex, money, etc… We probably all have people in our life who we love, but who have been consumed with intense desire for something that has or is destroying their life and the lives of those around them. It's tragic.
This kind of passion is what the Bible warns against.
Passion also has another meaning. It can mean suffering. In fact, that is the original meaning and, etymologically, where the word comes from.
Have you heard the term “Blood, Sweat & Tears” We use this phrase when talking about something that people pour their everything into. It refers to passion, to something that you suffer for. You are willing to endure physical harm (blood); endure hardship, sacrifice time and comfort (sweat); and endure emotional pain (tears) for whatever it is that you are passionate for.
A passion is something that is all consuming. It both burns within you and burns you.
So, with all that in mind, let's look at what the Bible has to say about positive passion. While not using the word passion in a positive term, the Bible is full of verses that talk about positive passion.
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,” – Ephesians 5:17-18 ESV
Here we see God comparing passion for wine, for alcohol, to a passion for Himself, for the Spirit. The first is warned against, while the second is encouraged. Also, as part of that, we are told to understand the will of God, that which drives and consumes Him. His passion. So, what is that? What is God’s will and passion?
“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9 ESV
God’s passion is for us to be united with Him. Jesus came to grant us life abundant (passionate), here and now, but He also came to give us the opportunity for life eternal with Him in Heaven. For this He suffered: physically, spiritually, emotionally. Our salvation is His passion.
With all of that, what then should our passion be?
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4 ESV
If our delight, our passion, is for Jesus we will find a life that is full and fulfilled. This is not a genie in a lamp verse, but rather a promise that when our passion is properly aligned, when the things we yearn for and that consume us are those things that are from God, are God, that we will be granted them.
God says to seek and you will find, so seek Him.
So, my challenge this week is two-fold.
We are all consumed with passion for something. This may be passion for a person, passion for a pursuit, passion for a hobby or interest, passion for an idea or a belief. It's different for everyone, but everyone has passion in their life. In fact, passion is a driving force behind life.
However, not all passions are the same, and not all are good.
In the Bible, almost every time the word passion is used it is in a negative light. The Bible talks about passions for things that harm us and are detrimental: physically, spiritually, emotionally, but always hurtful and not good for us. God says that we should flee from these things. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't; they run toward these harmful passions and bury themselves deeply within them.
Think about people you know who have fallen within passion for drugs, alcohol, power, sex, money, etc… We probably all have people in our life who we love, but who have been consumed with intense desire for something that has or is destroying their life and the lives of those around them. It's tragic.
This kind of passion is what the Bible warns against.
Passion also has another meaning. It can mean suffering. In fact, that is the original meaning and, etymologically, where the word comes from.
Have you heard the term “Blood, Sweat & Tears” We use this phrase when talking about something that people pour their everything into. It refers to passion, to something that you suffer for. You are willing to endure physical harm (blood); endure hardship, sacrifice time and comfort (sweat); and endure emotional pain (tears) for whatever it is that you are passionate for.
A passion is something that is all consuming. It both burns within you and burns you.
So, with all that in mind, let's look at what the Bible has to say about positive passion. While not using the word passion in a positive term, the Bible is full of verses that talk about positive passion.
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,” – Ephesians 5:17-18 ESV
Here we see God comparing passion for wine, for alcohol, to a passion for Himself, for the Spirit. The first is warned against, while the second is encouraged. Also, as part of that, we are told to understand the will of God, that which drives and consumes Him. His passion. So, what is that? What is God’s will and passion?
“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9 ESV
God’s passion is for us to be united with Him. Jesus came to grant us life abundant (passionate), here and now, but He also came to give us the opportunity for life eternal with Him in Heaven. For this He suffered: physically, spiritually, emotionally. Our salvation is His passion.
With all of that, what then should our passion be?
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4 ESV
If our delight, our passion, is for Jesus we will find a life that is full and fulfilled. This is not a genie in a lamp verse, but rather a promise that when our passion is properly aligned, when the things we yearn for and that consume us are those things that are from God, are God, that we will be granted them.
God says to seek and you will find, so seek Him.
So, my challenge this week is two-fold.
- Identify the passions in your life, both positive and negative.
- Pursue positive passion. Delight yourself in the Lord.
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