Rekindling Passion

Day 27, September 4, 2011

I have to admit that one of my biggest struggles in knowing Jesus is consistency.  It is hard for me to focus on a daily task such as this blog.  It feels easy just to blame this struggle on my ADD and inability to do so but I really feel like that is a cop out.  I have no problem dwelling on the many things I am passionate about daily.  I have never once forgot a meal.  I am always on time for my favorite TV shows.  I have no problem dwelling on a song I am writing, a computer problem I am fixing, or a date I am planning for my wife.  Why is it then that I struggle so much to consistently do devotion, prayer, and this blog? 

I was listening to a song on K-Love earlier today by Jason Grey called, More Like Falling in Love.  The Lyrics are as follows:

Give me rules 


I will break them 


Give me lines 


I will cross them 


I need more than a truth to believe 


I need a truth that lives, moves, and breathes 


To sweep me off my feet 


It ought to be 



[Chorus]

More like falling in love 


Than something to believe in 


More like losing my heart 


Than giving my allegiance 


Caught up, called out 


Come take a look at me now 


It's like I'm falling, oh 


It's like I'm falling in love 



Give me words 


I'll misuse them 


Obligations 


I'll misplace them 


'Cause all religion ever made of me 


Was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet 


It never set me free 


It's gotta be 



CHORUS 



...It's like I'm falling in love, love, love 


Deeper and deeper 


It was love that made 
Me a believer 


In more than a name, a faith, a creed 


Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me

The two most incredible lines in this song are, “'Cause all religion ever made of me 
was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet. 
It never set me free” and “It was love that made 
Me a believer.”   There is such truth in these lines.  I have never been compelled to develop a relationship with Jesus out of more than a sense of guilt by religion.  It was the love of my Savior that compelled me to want to become a believer in Jesus.  At times I forget this love and get caught up in all the other things that I love or are vying for my attention. 

In this struggle, I intend to rekindle that flame of love I had for my Savior.  This was the flame where I would do anything for my Lord.  Do you remember it?  The flame where you would’ve went and proclaimed Christ to any country or people.  This is the flame where you were willing to do any service project, ministry, or event for Christ.  Do you remember when all your thoughts were on your Lord, His word, and His will for your life?  Do you remember when your only answer to Him was, “Here am I, send me Lord?” 

I remember those days and somewhere in the process of becoming an adult my flame dwindled down to a small flickering candle.  When I was younger just out of High School and entering college, I remember that flame was like a mighty bonfire.  I was ready to conquer the world for Christ.  Some would say that those dreams and ambitions of ministering like Paul were immature and unrealistic but I would say that they were spot on.  Why do many of us view Paul as a little goofy?  Maybe it is because he was totally and completely sold out for Jesus even to the point of dying.  Today that is perceived as weird but you know what?  I guarantee Paul received a well done good and faithful servant upon entering heaven. 

I honestly have no interest in just making it into heaven by the skin of my teeth.  I want to be able to be welcomed into heaven knowing that I served my Lord well.  I want to make it clear that I in no way believe I can earn my way into heaven or believe that there is any way to heaven but through Jesus’ perfect and saving grace.  I am not talking about earning my way to heaven.  I am talking about serving my Lord with all my being.  I’m talking about living a life that is completely sold out for my Lord even to the possibility of dying for Him like Paul.  I don’t know about you but when I am really honest with myself I highly respect and wish I could live like Paul.  I respect Paul because when Jesus asked him to do something there was nothing that was going to keep him from accomplishing the task that Jesus called him to.  He lived a passionate life for Christ.

If you want to live a passionate life for Christ then join with me today as I continue on the journey to know and live more passionately for Jesus daily.  I am sorry that I had three days without writing a blog.  I will be working to continue a daily blog update as I did when I first started.  I ask that you please pray for me as I continue growing closer to Christ and learning to walk as He did and hopefully living as passionately as Paul did.  I hope you all have a wonderful Labor day. 

Blessings,

Greg