“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” – Isaiah 1:17.
The church was once the workshop for the greatest art the world has ever known. Wander through an ancient cathedral. Rest in front of a Renaissance painting. Listen to a 19th century hymn. All of this art evolved from a passion to lead creation toward its Creator. Nothing great is ever accomplished in life without passion. Nothing great is ever sustained in life without passion.
The apostle Paul accomplished an astounding amount in two decades of ministry. What made him tick? What drove him to carry out the work that he did? We find the secret in Philippians 3:7-9: “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.”
This passage clearly exhibits Paul’s passion for his calling. Leaders, like Paul, are people who have figured out what they stand for. They have identified their purpose and pursue it with a passion. So what gets you out of bed in the morning? What is your purpose or mission in life? Most people would probably have trouble crystallizing a clear purpose for their lives. In Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth, He sheds some light on our journey while on earth. “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
This passage outlines God’s unique purposes for our lives, and reminds us to develop an eternal perspective so that we will have a passion to give our lives in exchange for the things that God tells us will endure. The word of God and people are the only things that will endure in this world. So we need a passion for both. Serving brings purpose to our lives. I’ve discovered that I’m the most fulfilled and content when I’m serving others, and not just my own self-interests.
Passion is a driving force. Passion makes our life worth living and gives us a purpose to live and die for. It compels you to act: it forces you to get out of your comfort zone.
In order to find your passion and purpose, you need to look inward and see what truly inspires you – what makes you feel alive.
Discussion Questions:
- What is one need that you are personally passionate about meeting in people?
- What are your abilities and gifts that could help make a difference in the lives of people around you?