OK, I know I am dating myself here, but How many of you remember the song (Passion) by Rod Stewart? This is silly, but it was a reminder to me that the word Passion can be used in such varied ways. This week is Holy Week. Some people even refer to it as Passion Week. For those of you who don't know, this is the week in History that Jesus prepared to die for our sin and our shame on the Cross at Calvary. This was His Passion. It was what He came here to do. It had been decided at the very foundations of the earth. It was prophesied in detail, before He was ever born. And, it is the one single act that changes History and the hearts of those who believe, even now, almost 2500 years later.
So, what is passion, what does it mean? The Webster dictionary defines it as 1. The sufferings of Christ between the Last Supper and His death. (to be capitalized) 2. A strong feeling; the emotions as distinguished from reason. 3. rage, anger, or Love 4. Love; an object of affection or enthusiasm 5. a sexual desire. Interesting that Christ still gets top billing in the Dictionary. I can only assume that is because there was no other act in History that showed such intense Love and Passion as the act of being brutally beaten, flogged, humiliated and then nailed by His wrists to a tree to be mocked and spit at and to DIE.
Usually we describe a passionate act as something that rises up quickly, but as we can see from the example of Christ; passion is a slow burn. It is something that is in a person's heart for a long time. Being fed, nurtured along and eventually comes to maturity and is expressed. Passion can be for good or evil, and it works the same way. It builds over time. It is also something that is in our nature; our emotional and physical makeup. Jesus was born to earth to die on our behalf. It was the nature of Him to be the atoning sacrifice of the world. Heb 9:14 How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of His eternal Spirit , His own preexisting divine personality, has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God... Passion also has it's home in our mind; our thinking. The Bible tells us that God had us in mind before he set the foundations of the world in place. It also tells us that " a man's mind plans his way". (Prov. 16:9).
I wrote the word passion twice yesterday. I used the word to described what I believe is my calling; the area in which I believe God would have me serve others. When I got home last night after writing the word, I began to reflect on it for a long time. I began to see that this passion I have for other women to know and experience Christ has been burning in my heart for a longgggg time. It is something that is part of my nature--my new nature!, and it has been fed and nurtured along. It is something that is now on my mind. It has bubbled up to the point of expression. I have been praying about it almost endlessly since I arrived here in Savannah. God is giving me a vision for it and showing me the steps I need to take to help it reach maturity and be His expression here. There is a feeling of urgency, and yet a willingness to allow God's timing. It will be wrought with self-sacrifice and it will be of eternal value.
I can't help but wonder if it was for this reason that Jesus often withdrew to the lonely, quiet places with God. He knew what was coming and what it would cost, and what value it would have for those who choose to take part. The objects of His Passion.
Lord, There are no words to thank you for the Cross. The brutality of what you suffered is more than I can comprehend. The only Worship I can offer is that of a life of imitating You. Help me Lord, to take up my cross each day, and to walk in Your way. Give me a vision of eternity, so I can stay the course. I love you Lord. Amen
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