Passion

What does passion look like? I love sports, and have always loved the guys who seemed to play with passion and intensity -- John McEnroe, Michael Irvin, Michael Jordan, etc. I even get kick out guys like Dennis Rodman and Terrell Owens. At least they keep things interesting.

There are many guys, though, that exude a quiet passion that's not outward and flamboyant. Guys like Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison of the Colts. There are plenty of people who have passion, but don't show it in outward ways -- simply ways that make them push to achieve excellence.

I've been thinking about this what this means spiritually. I am definitely an outwardly passionate person. I get emotional. I cry. I sometimes yell and scream. I'm not opposed to a good argument. Yet I know that there are others who are just as passionate about their savior that show it in other, quieter ways.

So, how do know if someone has passion? If a church has passion? No matter how you show it, passionate people (and churches) are never content where they are. They do not settle for the place they are. In Revelation 3, Jesus speaks to the church in Laodicea, telling them they are neither hot nor cold, so he just wants to spit them out from his mouth. That's a pretty condemning evidence of a lack of passion. How do we know they are not passionate? Because they believe they are okay where they are..."You think you are wealthy and don't need anything." In other words, they are content with where they are, the gifts they have been given. The world has convinced them they don't need to be stretched -- to grow -- and so they no longer have a passion. They're lukewarm.

I have realized lately that I am more Terrell Owens than Peyton Manning. I get passionate about Jesus, the church, and what we should be about. Sometimes that comes out in weird ways. There are people that have a similar passion that show it in other ways. That is awesome. But I never want to be that church in Laodicea. I don't want to be satisfied with where we are. I don't want to be seduced into thinking we've got it made. I don't want to stop growing, pushing (sometimes painfully) to be more like the Christians and the church that God desires us to be. I want to be part of a passionate body.

God save us from our desire for comfort and satisfaction. Lord, give us all passion to be more like you each day -- no matter how it shows up.

Available

"Here I am." Those words sound so simple, yet they have become so powerful to me lately. In all of the roles that I play in my life -- husband, father, son, teacher, minister, etc. -- there is so much that I am called to be. The list of qualities that I am to display and tasks which I am to perform are often overwhelming. How many days do I go about my business feeling overmatched by the expectations that are put upon me? Surely I cannot be the only one around that feels the tension between what I am called to be and the person that I am.

Recently, though, something has jumped out at me from God's word. There was a time when I would look through scripture and feel even more intimidated. Just read through Hebrews 11 and read of the men and women who accomplished great things for God and try not to feel small in comparison. But there is a commonality among these people, and most people, described in scripture.

Those God called in scripture were not amazing in nature. In fact, they were often quite the opposite. None of the apostles stood out from the crowd, yet they were called to walk in ministry with Jesus. Scripture is filled with losers that God used to shame the wise. They do, however, have 1 quality in common -- availability. When God called them -- Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Samuel, etc -- they responded, "Here I am." That's a simple phrase, but incredibly powerful. They were open to the great adventure God called them to. They were willing to say "yes" when so much of them wanted to say "no." They simply opened themselves up and were available to God. They let God do the heavy lifting. "Here I am" is powerful.

I'm even more amazed when "Here I am" is placed next to the words God used to describe himself. When Moses asked God for a name to tell Pharaoh, God called himself "I Am." God just is...and everything and everyone else is defined in relationship to him. It's much more important who God is -- and what's most important about me is where I am. God is the "I Am" and I just need to be the one who says "Here I am." Because God is who he is, I am here for him.

All the things that I feel I need to be are not important. God is...and all I need to be is available. God will do the rest. He defines me. He works within me. He gives me meaning. He is the key ingredient to my success. God already is all the things I long to be. The only pressure I have is to be open to him. Therefore, God, here I am.