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WHAT IS YOUR PASSION?

    He looked tired and haggard.  You could tell he had lost sleep.  I asked how he was doing.  "Not too good", he admitted. "I've been getting up about 4 o'clock every morning",  he continued.  "It's turkey season, you know, and turkey calling and hunting are my passion," he said as he lifted a pant leg to proudly show off a severely skinned knee.  "I didn't even stop when I fell; I just kept on going!"

    Just about everyone has a passion.  Turkey hunting is his.  He has the pictures and trophies to prove it!  This person is not a member of the church.  But wouldn't it be nice if he were and had the same passion for the Lord as he has for turkey hunting?

    In fact, wouldn't it be nice if every Christian had such a passion for the greatest cause on earth?    Just think of how the world would be changed for the better.  So often we are unwilling to lose sleep, arise early, and shake off minor injuries and aches and pains to pursue our spiritual goals.

    Perhaps there is a need for each of us to periodically reassess our commitment to Christ.  Did not the Savior say, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me"?  (Luke 9:23.)

    It is easy for the lesser things of life to distract us from the more important matters.  Worship times, Bible study, personal prayer, visitation, and other areas of spiritual service give way to recreational, social, and leisure activities.  Our spiritual development suffers when such occurs.

    "The Passion Of The Christ", Mel Gibson's movie about the last twelve hours of Jesus' life, has been much in the news.  What was the passion of the Christ?  It was not to have His own way, but to accomplish, fulfill, and finish the will of His Father and, thereby, make possible the salvation of fallen, sinful humanity.  His words were, "Not my will, but thine, be done", and "It is finished." (Luke 22:42; John 19:30.)  His passion led him to suffer far more than a scratched knee! 

    His passion for your salvation led Him to lay down His life for you.  Will your passion for Him lead you to give your life to Him and for Him?

                                                                               Edward L Anderson

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