Matt 22:37

The Bible isn’t too kind to half-hearted people. Hot is great. Cold is bad. But lukewarm? They can only look forward to being spit out faster than an apple with a worm in it! I suppose it would also include synonyms such as apathetic, mediocre, lazy, wishy-washy, ambivilent, easy-going, and so on. We are advised to do whatever we do with all our heart, whole-heartedly. Love the Lord our God with all of our hearts. Believe with all of our hearts. Forgive from the heart. Do everything passionately, as unto the Lord.

Passion is what separates the tryers from the doers in life. Anyone can try something, find it more difficult then expected and give up. Anyone can encounter obstacles and change course to find the path of least resistance. Passion is what keeps people at it long after all the others have given up. Passion is what keeps you on your feet when you’re too beat up and tired to stand. Passion is what gets the job done.

Anyone who sets out to follow a dream is certainly going to have to face some enemies, both inward and outward ones. But it is passion alone that will overrule your doubts and drive you forward. Passion will fortify you in places of danger where a wrong move might mean losing everything. When disaster strikes, which it does with randomn indiscretion, passion will help you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again. Many are the opportunities to compromise along the road to great achievements. Passion is your best immunity against the dilution of your vision. Then there is the enemy of delay. Sometimes it’s the toughest opponent of all – waiting. And waiting. But the determined can wait as long as it takes. Their passion keeps them focussed and vigilent. It drives us forward even through the pain of desertion, when people forsake you and even turn against you, passion will keep you moving steadily towards your goal.

Passion is the real secret of spiritual success. God isn’t looking for your theological degree, priestly pedigree, or citizen-of-the-year awards. He is drawn to those are simply, fervantly, and passionately in love with him! He knows that if we are passionate about him, then we will also be passionate about everything he stands for. Do this, Jesus said, and we have fulfilled all the law and the prophets.

Passion is what it takes to make dreams come true – to accomplish what we’ve set out to do and finish the course God has laid out for us to run. Think of Moses when the children of Israel not only failed to serve God for the umpteenth time, but made for themselves a golden calf and held an orgy, throwing into question the whole prospect of ever bringing them into the promised land and fulfilling God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses, in his zeal to fulfill that promise jumped between them and the wrath of God and declared, “You’ll have to kill me first!” Passion!

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Col 3:23-24